Experiences of Assistive Products Use among Older People in Japan
Lead Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
Principal Investigator (PI): Dr Misato Nihei, Lecturer, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
Budget: US$ 100,000
Project start: February 2018; Mail survey and screening: February-May 2018; Semi-structured interview survey: June-October 2018; In-depth
interview survey: November-December 2018; Final project report: February 2019

Overview and Aim
The use of assistive products can reduce the effects of several types of impairment, allowing older people to live more comfortably athome and remain active and engaged members of society. The very old population of Japan offers a unique source of information about
the use of assistive products in later life. In this study, we will conduct a survey of non-institutionalized individuals, 90 years old andabove, about their experiences with assistive products. The aim is to provide important insights to service providers in Japan and globally
about strategies for the optimal provision of assistive products to older populations.

Background
Improvements in healthcare and lifestyles have allowed more people to live longer than ever. Japan, for example, has approximately 67 000
centenarians – more than in any other country in the world. Increasing age, however, is associated with increases in frailty, cognitive decline,
chronic illness and other impairments, and the use of assistive products becomes essential to live comfortably and autonomously in one’s home.
With the number of older people worldwide forecast to increase substantially, the global demand for assistive technology is sure to increase.

Methods
The study participants will be Japanese, 90 years old and above, and current users of an assistive product, who are living in residential
settings. The sample will be selected from residents of Kashiwa City, Chiba prefecture (site of the Kashiwa90 Study) and participants of
the ongoing Septuagenarian, Octogenarian, Nonagenarian Investigation with Centenarian, Japan (SONIC) Study. The research will
involve (1) a mail survey to assess assistive product use in the target population and to screen for eligibility for subsequent interviews,(2) a semi-structured interview with eligible participants on their use of assistive products and the impact on their daily living activities,and (3) a semi-structured, in-depth interview with a sub-set of the participants about the psychological effects of using assistive products
and the utilization of community services to support the use of assistive products.
Questionnaire Survey 1(Screening)

Questionnaire Survey 2(Interview)

Questionnaire Survey 3(In-depth interview)

Method : Mail survey
Eligibility : Men and women, 90 years
or older, included in theKashiwa90 Study and SONIC
Study sampling frames
Survey topics : Use of AP, Living
arrangement; level ofindependence; possibility ofparticipation in the study

Method : Semi-structured interview
Eligibility : Current use of
assistive products, living
in residential setting (fromSurvey 1)
Survey topics : Daily use of
assistive products andits impact on daily life
activities

Method : Semi-structured interview
Eligibility : Centenarians(from Survey 2)
Survey topics : Experiences withassistive products;
psychological impact;
utilization of community-based
support services

Research Objectives
1. Identify the age at which different types of assistive products are commonly used.
2. Identify what types of assistive products tend to commonly be used together.
3. Explore how assistive product use influences the daily living activities of users.
4. Identify users’ experience of factors that facilitate or inhibit their use of assistive products.
5. Explore users’ experience of and views about the services available to support their use of assistive products in the community.
6. Document older people’s insights about their use of assistive products, including self-perceptions, feelings of stigma and empowerment.

Research Team Members
Lead Institution: The University of Tokyo

Misato Nihei (PI), Lecturer, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Ikuko Sugawara, Project Lecturer, Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo
Yasuyuki Gondo, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University
Yukie Masui, Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology
Hiroki Inagaki, Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology<Advisers>
Takenobu Inoue, Director, Department of Assistive Technology, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities
Malcolm MacLachlan, Professor of Psychology and Social Inclusion, ALL (Assisting Living & Learning) Institute, Maynooth University, Ireland
Eilish McAuliffe, Professor of Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland
Megumi Rosenberg, Technical Officer, WHO Kobe Centre

WHO Centre for Health Development

http://www.who.int/kobe̲centre/en/