Políticas Públicas de Tecnologia Assistiva no Brasil: Um Estudo Sobre a Usabilidade e abandono por Pesssoas com Deficiência Física

Abstract

Objective: the aim was to investigate the technology in the lives of people with physical disabilities living in the city of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil. For this, we attempted to identify which are assistive technology resources that these individuals have and how did the acquisition of these technologies, usability and abandonment; identify the knowledge about the subject of granting policies of technologies. Method: a cross-sectional research, with a convenience sample, we selected 91 subjects, aged from 18 to 93 years, enrolled in Family Health Care Units, with some physical disability. The sample was divided in two groups: adults (n = 34) and elderly (n = 57) to compare the results between them. The instrument of data collection was a form developed by the researcher. For data analysis we used a quantitative approach composed by descriptive analysis. Results: as an outcomes, we found that the participants showed a considerable repertoire of technologies, mostly acquired with their own funds or donations. Much of these technologies could be granted by the grant program of the Federal Government, however, the list of technologies identified in this study suggests that these individuals also make use, as well as other technologies require not covered by the grant program. Conclusion: from the data obtained, some implications are done in order to increase actions developed in the health care of people with disabilities and the improvement of public policies for this population. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]