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Independence of older adults in performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and the relation of this performance to visual abilities

2004; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 5; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/1463922021000050023

1464-536X

Keiko Ishihara, Shigekazu Ishihara, Mitsuo Nagamachi, Hirokazu Osaki, Sugaru Hiramatsu,

Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Abstract A questionnaire study was undertaken of more than 2800 elderly people aged 60 years and over and living at home, to investigate the relationship between their performance of some instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and their visual abilities. The IADL measured the ability of elderly participants to pick up coins, manage monthly financial matters, use the telephone and take medication as recommended. Visual abilities were assessed by means of each subject's answers to questions relating to resolution, focus, adaptation to bright or to dim lighting, dynamic acuity, distance perception and colour vision. The types of visual functions that, together with age and gender, contribute to determining the level of independence in the performance of IADL activities were identified using logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that elderly participants who had problems with either distance perception or yellowish vision also tended to have difficulties in picking up coins, using the telephone and taking medication as recommended. In addition, problems with adaptation and dynamic acuity were associated with difficulty in managing monthly financial matters. From an analysis of all subjects, distance perception was the significant factor that determined whether an elderly subject could pick up coins or use a telephone unaided. Yellowish vision was also significantly associated with a need for assistance or with an inability to manage monthly financial matters, use the telephone or take medication as recommended. Keywords: Older adultsIADLsage-related decline in visionlogistic regression analysis Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge the help of Onomichi City staff in distributing and collecting the questionnaires. About the authors Keiko Ishihara has been employed in Hiroshima Chuo Women's Junior College as assistant professor to teach ergonomics and computer science in 1992–2001. In 2001, she moved to the College of Human and Social Environment, Hiroshima International University as lecturer. Her major research fields are gerontechnology and ergonomics. Shigekazu Ishihara received his PhD in engineering from Hiroshima University in 2001. He has been employed in Onomichi Junior College as assistant professor to teach ergonomics and management in 1993–2001. In 2001, he moved to the College of Human and Social Environment, Hiroshima International University as assistant professor. His major research fields are Kansei engineering, ergonomics and gerontechnology. Mitsuo Nagamachi received a PhD in psychology from Hiroshima University in 1963. Since then he has been employed in Hiroshima University to teach human factors and management. He retired from it in 1996 and became President of Kure National Institute of Technology. In 2001, he moved to Hiroshima International University as the dean of the College of Human and Social Environment and established the Department of Kansei Ergonomics there. His major research fields are manufacturing, TQM, safety, macro ergonomics and Kansei engineering. He has published more than 80 books so far, several of which were translated into Korean and Chinese. He has contributed to hundreds of Japanese large companies from the viewpoints of his research fields for many years. Hirokazu Osaki is currently Professor in the Department of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University. He was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University in 1998–2002. He is the author of over 100 articles including industrial engineering, industrial management, intelligent assembly robot system and skill-formulation by digital technology. He has been continuously held the chairperson of the China–Japan International Symposium (Conference) on Industrial Management from 1991. He was awarded the article medal of the Japanese Industrial Management Association in 2001. Sugaru Hiramatsu has been employed in Kure Industrial High School at 1967 and moved to Onomichi Junior College at 1977 to give health and physical education. He is currently professor in the Department of Economics and Information. He was a member of Council for the master plan of Onomichi City in 1995–1997 and 2000–2001, and is vice president of Onomichi Amateur Sports Association from 1998. His major research field is sports science and positive health for middle-aged and elderly people. He published several books on sports activity in community, physical training, life-long sports and mountain climbing.