Patient Preference and Adherence (Feb 2023)
Factors Influencing Utilization of Assistive Devices by Tibetan Seniors on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Based on Research Strategy of Triangulation
Abstract
Jun Luo,1 Qing Liu,2 Zhujizhaba Gama,3 Deji Gesang,3 Ying Zhu,2 Lining Yang,2 Dingqun Bai,2 Qinghua Zhao,4 Mingzhao Xiao1 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, Tibet, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Mingzhao Xiao, 1st Youyi Road, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13608399433, Email [email protected]: To investigate the current situation of assistive device (AD) usage among seniors in Tibet, China, and explore its influencing factors.Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. Cognition, attitude, behavior, and preference toward ADs were assessed by a self-designed questionnaire. Additionally, participants responded to the open-ended questions. Anderson’s behavior model analyzed the impacts of the prerequisite factors, enabling factors, and demand factors influencing the utilization of ADs by Tibetan seniors.Results: Of the 211 Tibetan seniors, 149 (70.6%) Tibetan seniors expressed the willingness to utilize ADs. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that one prerequisite factor: age; one enabling factor: care situation, and one demand factor: dysfunctional condition were factors influencing the utilization of ADs. Qualitative comments described: psychological, physical environment, and social support factors were the main influencing factors.Conclusion: This study presents the current situation to utilize ADs by Tibetan seniors on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, incorporates Anderson’s behavioral model for quantitative analysis, and combines qualitative research to explore the facilitating and hindering factors, to provide reference and basis for the development of ADs for seniors and policy formulation. The sample size of this study is relatively small and limited to ethnic groups, and we plan to increase the sample size and include more ethnic groups in the future study.Keywords: assistive devices, seniors, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, mixed-methods research
