Experiences and Desires of People with Tetraplegia living with and without Electronic Aids to Daily Living: an Irish Focus Group Study
 

Experiences and Desires of People with Tetraplegia living with and without Electronic Aids to Daily Living: an Irish Focus Group Study

Michele Verdonck, Elizabeth Steggles G Chard
Proceedings of the 2009 Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America Annual Conference
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Annual Conference, 2009 (New Orleans, United States, 23-Jun-2009–27-Jun-2009)
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
2009

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Public Health and Health Services Environmental Control Systems (ECS) focus groups tetraplegia/quadriplegia qualitative Electronic Aids to Daily Living (EADL)
This qualitative descriptive study explores the lived experience for persons with a high cervical spinal cord injury who have Electronic Aids to Daily Living (EADLs), and for persons who have no EADLs. Fifteen people with cervical spinal cord injuries attended four focus groups. Data analysis uncovered a novel framework of several themes that were organised into three categories: experiences, desires and meanings of living with EADL. Users' and non users' groups revealed homogenous themes. Experiences and desires are explored further in this paper. Themes within the category of experiences included: EADL devices, supply support and training, abandonment, mouthsticks and powered wheelchairs. Desires included: simple stuff, reliability, aesthetics and voice activation. Findings offer valuable personal insights about life with EADL to be considered by all involved with EADL.
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