Reablement Applications Suite Project - Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reablement Applications Suite Project - Version 1
IRAS ID
147800
Contact name
Warren Goodland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Disabled Living Foundation
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Research summary
Despite the continuous increase in Smartphone healthcare applications (apps) usage amongst the working age population, there is currently a lack of research regarding its usage within Therapy.This research aims to establish user experiences of using a web-based and smartphone Reablement app; the apps are designed to assist Occupational Therapists (OTs) in creating Activity of Daily Living advice handouts for Service Users (SUs) and carers and offer a text messaging function for providing reminders of Reablement techniques.The apps have been developed by the Disabled Living Foundation (DLF), a national charity providing impartial advice, information and training on independent living, funded through the Department of Health.This research is designed to answer six main research objectives: 1.To explore SUs’ experiences of Reablement handouts, generated by OTs through the app. 2.To explore OTs experiences of using a Reablement app and its benefit to SUs. 3.To explore SUs’ experiences of receiving texts during Reablement. 4.To explore carers/ family members’ experiences of using Reablement handouts and texts. 5.To evaluate whether there is a difference in the number of care hours at the end of Reablement for SUs who have received texts compared to the control group. 6.To evaluate how the app is being used.This research aims to fill the existing knowledge gap in the use of apps in OT; This will provide DLF with information for future development of an app for OTs working within Reablement Teams.The study will use mixed methods to research experiences using interviews with SUs and focus groups with OTs; thematic analysis will be applied to qualitative data.Differences in pre/post outcomes of SUs who received texts, compared to the matched control group, will be evaluated using data analysis software. Online analytics will be used to assess which sections of the programme are most frequently used. Participants: OTs from three different Reablement Teams, Adult SUs, Carers/ Family members of SUs in England.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
14/IEC08/1006
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion