Enhancing Home Care ThroughErgonomic Bathroom Design: A Quantitative Analysis of Engagement with Assistive Equipment
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Background: In this thesis, it is investigated how different bathroom designs impact the useand effectiveness of assistive equipment by standardized patients and assistant nurses during homecare activities.
Aim: In this study, the aim is to quantitatively assess the impact of various ergonomicbathroom designs on the effectiveness of assistive equipment usage in home care settings.
Method: Through the analysis of video data from 42 experimental sessions, includingstandardized patients using walkers and wheelchairs across three different bathroom layouts, theeffectiveness of ergonomic designs in facilitating or hindering interactions with assistivetechnologies is examined.
Results: The experimental results indicate significantly higher frequency and duration ofhelpful interactions with assistive devices in the 'Equipped' bathroom layout during specific tasks,particularly for a standardized patient using walker. Although the results were not uniformlysignificant across all tasks and mobility levels, the data indicate a trend toward improved functionalindependence and safety in well-designed ergonomic environments.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is concluded that integrating ergonomic principles intohome care settings is critically important for enhancing the quality of life and care delivery. Thisstudy provides results emphasizing the necessity for thoughtful, user-centered designs in home careenvironments, particularly for aging populations. In this study, it is suggested that such designssignificantly impact the frequency and duration of assistive equipment usage, thereby promotingfunctional independence and safety for elderly users, and improving both caregiver efficiency andpatient autonomy.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024.
Series
TRITA-CBH-GRU ; 2024:287
Keywords [en]
ergonomic design, assistive equipment, home care, elderly users, functional independence, caregiver efficiency
National Category
Other Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-351851OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-351851DiVA, id: diva2:1889618
Subject / course
Ergonomics
Educational program
Master of Science - Technology, Work and Health
Supervisors
Examiners
2024-08-162024-08-162024-08-16Bibliographically approved