title: Barriers and facilitators to mobile phone use for people with aphasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mobile phone use increases social participation. People with the communication disorder of aphasia are disadvantaged in the use of information and communication technology such as mobile phones and are reported to be more socially isolated than their peers. The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health provides a framework to address the impact of environmental factors on individual participation. The aim of this preliminary study was to identify the barriers and facilitators to mobile phone use for people with aphasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative descriptive study involving two phases was conducted: (1) semi-structured interviews with 6 individuals with aphasia who owned or expressed a desire to own a mobile phone; (2) structured observations of key scenarios identified in the interviews of 3 participants who were sampled from the interview study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results identified 18 barriers and 9 facilitators to mobile phone use. Key barriers and facilitators were identified in the areas of design and features, written support and training, and communicative partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mobile phone use can be problematic for people with aphasia. Intervention needs to address the barriers and utilise the facilitators to mobile phone use for this population. Further research is required to inform policy and intervention programs to ensure that people with aphasia have access to this technology.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Carole-Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirst
authors.forename: Tami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009048:Motor Skills; D036301:Qualitative Research