Knowledge Creation in Technology Evaluation of 4-Wheel Electric Power Assisted Bicycle for Frail Elderly Persons - A Case Study of a Salutogenic Device in Healthcare Facilities in Japan

Miki Saijo, Makiko Watanabe, Sanae Aoshima, Norihiro Oda, Satoshi Matsumoto, Shishin Kawamoto

2014

Abstract

As societies age, it is anticipated that we will see a sudden increase in the number of frail elderly persons. New assisted-technology (AT) devices to facilitate the activities of daily life (ADL), especially of walking, are essential for the healthy life of these people. However, frail elderly people suffer a variety of physical and mental weaknesses that tend to hinder their ability to make use of AT devices in the intended manner. Because of this, it is important that new AT devices undergo technology evaluation within the context in which they are to be used, but there is very little research in this area. In this study, frail elderly people in Japanese daycare centers and rehabilitation facilities were given a 4-wheel, power-assisted bicycle, called a “Life Walker” (LW), to ride, and technology evaluations were carried out based on functionality, usability, and experience as perceived by the frail elderly riders. The LW is considered to be best suited for those age 75 and older assessed at level 1 to 3 under Japan’s long-term care insurance program, but the data for the 61 people at the rehabilitation facility who tried out the bicycle under the supervision of a resident physical therapist (PT), indicated that there was considerable individual deviation on the continued use of the AT device. The LW is also meant to enable frail elderly users who have difficulty walking to go outside and enjoy themselves more. It was found, however, that this effect was achieved only when the physical therapist intervened, gave encouragement, adjusted the bicycle settings as needed for the user, and otherwise created new knowledge. It was also found that in order for this kind of knowledge creation to take place, the bicycle must be used in an appropriate setting, the user needs to have a proactive attitude, and organizational support to ensure that therapists are appropriately assigned is necessary.

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Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Saijo M., Watanabe M., Aoshima S., Oda N., Matsumoto S. and Kawamoto S. (2014). Knowledge Creation in Technology Evaluation of 4-Wheel Electric Power Assisted Bicycle for Frail Elderly Persons - A Case Study of a Salutogenic Device in Healthcare Facilities in Japan . In Proceedings of the International Conference on Knowledge Management and Information Sharing - Volume 1: KMIS, (IC3K 2014) ISBN 978-989-758-050-5, pages 87-97. DOI: 10.5220/0005136100870097


in Bibtex Style

@conference{kmis14,
author={Miki Saijo and Makiko Watanabe and Sanae Aoshima and Norihiro Oda and Satoshi Matsumoto and Shishin Kawamoto},
title={Knowledge Creation in Technology Evaluation of 4-Wheel Electric Power Assisted Bicycle for Frail Elderly Persons - A Case Study of a Salutogenic Device in Healthcare Facilities in Japan},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Conference on Knowledge Management and Information Sharing - Volume 1: KMIS, (IC3K 2014)},
year={2014},
pages={87-97},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0005136100870097},
isbn={978-989-758-050-5},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the International Conference on Knowledge Management and Information Sharing - Volume 1: KMIS, (IC3K 2014)
TI - Knowledge Creation in Technology Evaluation of 4-Wheel Electric Power Assisted Bicycle for Frail Elderly Persons - A Case Study of a Salutogenic Device in Healthcare Facilities in Japan
SN - 978-989-758-050-5
AU - Saijo M.
AU - Watanabe M.
AU - Aoshima S.
AU - Oda N.
AU - Matsumoto S.
AU - Kawamoto S.
PY - 2014
SP - 87
EP - 97
DO - 10.5220/0005136100870097