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Taking a Load Off: User Perceptions of Smart Offloading Walkers for Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using the Technology Acceptance Model
oleh: M. G. Finco, Gozde Cay, Myeounggon Lee, Jason Garcia, Elia Salazar, Tze-Woei Tan, David G. Armstrong, Bijan Najafi
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2023-03-01 |
Deskripsi
People with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are commonly prescribed offloading walkers, but inadequate adherence to prescribed use can be a barrier to ulcer healing. This study examined user perspectives of offloading walkers to provide insight on ways to help promote adherence. Participants were randomized to wear: (1) irremovable, (2) removable, or (3) smart removable walkers (smart boot) that provided feedback on adherence and daily walking. Participants completed a 15-item questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Spearman correlations assessed associations between TAM ratings with participant characteristics. Chi-squared tests compared TAM ratings between ethnicities, as well as 12-month retrospective fall status. A total of 21 adults with DFU (age 61.5 ± 11.8 years) participated. Smart boot users reported that learning how to use the boot was easy (ρ =−0.82, <i>p</i><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>≤</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula> 0.001). Regardless of group, people who identified as Hispanic or Latino, compared to those who did not, reported they liked using the smart boot (<i>p</i> = 0.05) and would use it in the future (<i>p</i> = 0.04). Non-fallers, compared to fallers, reported the design of the smart boot made them want to wear it longer (<i>p</i> = 0.04) and it was easy to take on and off (<i>p</i> = 0.04). Our findings can help inform considerations for patient education and design of offloading walkers for DFUs.