Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Health Sciences

.: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Investigation of User Satisfaction and Associated Factors in Geriatrics Using Walking Aids: A Cross Sectional Study
Yürüme Yardımcısı Kullanan Geriatrik Bireylerde Kullanıcı Memnuniyeti ve İlişkili Faktörlerin İncelenmesi: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma
Yasin YURTa , Ender AYVATb
aEastern Mediterranean University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Famagusta, TRNC
bHacettepe University Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Ankara, Türkiye
Turkiye Klinikleri J Health Sci. 2024;9(2):313-9
doi: 10.5336/healthsci.2023-99239
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: We aimed to investigate user satisfaction and associated factors in geriatrics using a walking aid. Material and Methods: The Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology 2.0 was used to assess the satisfaction of 269 individuals aged ≥65 years using any walking aid. The relationships between satisfaction and age, years of use, body mass index, number of falls in the last year, physical activity level and health-related quality of life were analyzed. Results: The most commonly used walking aid was cane (78.8%). Ease of use was the most satisfied feature, while adjustments was the least satisfied feature. The three most important features were safety, ease of use and weight. Walking aid satisfaction had weak negative correlations with physical activity (r=-0.246) and quality of life (r=-0.131) (p<0.05). In addition, 41.6% of the participants stated that they had fallen at least once in the last year and 70.7% of them did not use a walking aid during the fall. Conclusion: Geriatrics with lower quality of life and physical activity values tend to have higher user satisfaction with walking aids with a weak relationship. Satisfaction results may contribute to the design and selection of appropriate walking aids for this population.

Keywords: Canes; satisfaction; geriatrics; physical activity; quality of life
ÖZET
 Amaç: Yürüme yardımcısı kullanan geriatrik bireylerde kullanıcı memnuniyeti ve ilişkili faktörleri araştırmayı amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Herhangi bir yürüme yardımcısı kullanan 65 yaş ve üstü 269 bireyin memnuniyeti Quebec Yardımcı Teknoloji Kullanıcı Memnuniyeti Değerlendirme 2.0 ile değerlendirildi. Memnuniyet ile yaş, kullanım yılı, beden kİtle indeksi, son bir yıldaki düşme sayısı, fiziksel aktivite seviyesi ve sağlıkla ilgili yaşam kalitesi arasındaki ilişkiler incelendi. Bulgular: En sık kullanılan yürüme yardımcısı bastondu (%78,8). En çok memnun olunan özellik kullanım kolaylığı iken en az memnun olunan özellik ayarlama kolaylığıydı. En önemli görülen üç özellik ise sağlamlık ve güvenliği, kullanım kolaylığı ve ağırlık olarak belirlendi. Yürüme yardımcısı memnuniyeti, fiziksel aktivite (r=-0,246) ve yaşam kalitesi (r=-0,131) değerleri ile negatif yönde zayıf ilişkiye sahipti (p<0,05). Ayrıca katılımcıların %41,6'sı son bir yılda en az bir kez düştüğünü, bunların %70,7'si düşme sırasında yürüme yardımcısı kullanmadığını belirtmiştir. Sonuç: Yaşam kalitesi ve fiziksel aktivite değerleri düşük olan geriatrik bireylerin, zayıf bir ilişki ile yürüme yardımcılarından memnuniyetleri daha yüksektir. Memnuniyet sonuçları, bu popülasyon için uygun yürüme yardımcılarının tasarımına ve seçimine katkıda bulunabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Baston; memnuniyet; geriatrikler; fiziksel aktivite; yaşam kalitesi
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