Evaluation of an interactive showroom to increase general knowledge about welfare technology and its potential in municipal care settings

Abstract

Background: Welfare Technology (WT) can promote participation in activity. Thus, initiatives to support the implementation of WT products and services in municipality care settings needs to be developed and evaluated to benefit end-users. Objective: To evaluate an interactive showroom of WT. Material and method: Municipal employees (n = 217) filled in a questionnaire before and after they visited an interactive showroom of WT. Findings: The number of participants confirming WT’s potential to contribute to municipal operation areas increased in seven out of eight areas after their visits (p < 0.05). A statistically significant increase was also found regarding general knowledge of and confidence in WT and its potential value. Conclusion: A visit to the interactive showroom increased the perceived general knowledge and appreciated value of WT. The perception of the possibility of implementing WT in various municipal operation areas also increased, which may contribute to the implementation of WT in municipal care settings.