Development and Effectiveness of a Transfer Equipment Innovation for Older People

Abstract

Older people have a balance problem due to increasing age or complications from underlying medical conditions which might cause falls. The development of equipment that can assist older people is important. This research and development aimed to develop and explore the effectiveness of an innovation of equipment to assist older people to transfer. The conceptual framework of the ADDIE model was used to develop innovations and assess innovation’s effectiveness by using a quasi-experimental research design. Fifteen pairs of older people and their caregivers were recruited from the community. The research instruments included 1) an instructional video for the innovation, 2) a general data record form, 3) an innovation use duration recording form, and 4) the user satisfaction questionnaire, which was validated by three experts. The index of the item-objective congruence was greater than .5 and the reliability was calculated to be .82 using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that: 1) the time spent transferring older people by using the innovation inside the house and for getting in and out of vehicles was decreased by an average of 1 minute 90 seconds and 1 minute 20 seconds respectively, and 2) the older people and their caregiver were satisfied with the innovation with the overall mean for satisfaction being at a high level (M = 4.03, SD = 0.73). This innovation can assist in the transfer the older people, reduce caregiver burden, and can further be developed to improve the quality of life for older people in Thailand.