The use of smartphones for wayfinding by people with mild dementia

Rick Yiu Cho Kwan, Daphne Sze Ki Cheung

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the acceptability, feasibility and usability of older people with mild dementia to use smartphone for wayfinding. Thirty cognitively normal older people and 16 people with mild dementia were recruited to participate in a wayfinding trial in the free-living environment. Five feasibility and three acceptability markers were compared between the groups. Content analysis on the video-recorded trial processes and individual interviews was employed to identify the usability issues. The results found that there were no significant between-group differences on the feasibility markers, except that the people with mild dementia needed significantly more time to complete the wayfinding trial and workshop; or on the acceptability items. Sensory/cognitive impairment and GPS signal reliability affected their usability. Mild dementia does not limit the older people to use smartphones for wayfinding in the free-living environment. Future studies should examine the efficacy and safety of smartphone to promote outdoor independence of the people with mild dementia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)721-735
Number of pages15
JournalDementia
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2020

Keywords

  • cognitive impairment
  • dementia
  • smartphone
  • technology
  • wayfinding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Social Sciences

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