Article of the month: January

The website committee has chosen the following as article of the month January: 

Kowe A, Köhler S, Görß D, Teipel S. The patients’ and caregivers’ perspective: In-hospital navigation aids for people with dementia- a qualitative study with a value sensitive design approach. Assist Technol. 2022 Jan 12:1-10. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2021.2020378. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34919023

Orientation and navigation for people with dementia becomes increasingly difficult, due to cognitive decline. But many people are also affected by topographical disorientation, the inability to orient and navigate in the real environment. Where finding your way in a hospital is already difficult for people without cognitive impairment, it is very challenging for people with dementia. While this is a group with frequent hospitalisations and longer lengths of stays, as compared to people without cognitive impairment. This study addresses an underreported setting in dementia care research, the hospital, and aims to contribute to the development of a needs-based in-hospital navigation aid. Using a value sensitive design, the researchers interviewed 10 persons with dementia and 10 informal carers. Besides design recommendations for an in-hospital navigation aid, also values were identified for the aid to be accepted for use. According to participants the aid should ensure the safety of the person with dementia, while maintaining their independence. Additionally, the aid should be of low complexity and simple to use, and training would increase the willingness to use the aid. The use of in-hospital navigation aids potentially have high benefit, they could counteract immobilisation and rehospitalisation which is common amongst people with dementia.

To read  here