Factors Influencing Utilization of Assistive Devices by Tibetan Seniors on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Based on Research Strategy of Triangulation

Jun Luo; Qing Liu; Zhujizhaba Gama; Deji Gesang; Ying Zhu; Lining Yang; Dingqun Bai; Qinghua Zhao; Mingzhao Xiao

doi:10.2147/PPA.S400346

Factors Influencing Utilization of Assistive Devices by Tibetan Seniors on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Based on Research Strategy of Triangulation

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2023 Feb 15:17:401-411. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S400346. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jun Luo¹, Qing Liu², Zhujizhaba Gama³, Deji Gesang³, Ying Zhu², Lining Yang², Dingqun Bai², Qinghua Zhao⁴, Mingzhao Xiao¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital, Tibet, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Purpose: 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: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; assistive devices; mixed-methods research; seniors.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by The National Key Research and Development Program of China, grant number, 2020YFC2005900) and The Key Research and Development Program Jointly Implemented by Sichuan and Chongqing, grant number, cstc2020jscx-cylhX002).