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Hawkins S. We don't have to be dowdy just because we are disabled: Summarising the problems encountered by people with limited mobility in finding and buying practical and stylish clothes. Neuromuscul Disord 2024; 37:23-28. [PMID: 38508070 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
This paper explores how people with limited mobility choose and buy clothes, and how this could be improved, both for them and for retailers. It reports on an online survey carried out May-September 2023, asking people with limited mobility about their experiences, shows the practical difficulties they encounter and makes recommendations for retailers to improve their offer and reach to this group of consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Hawkins
- Muscular Dystrophy UK, 32 Ufford Street, London SE1 8QD, United Kingdom.
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2
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Xing L, Zakaria N, Ruznan WS. Classification of lower limb body shapes of paralysed female wheelchair users in Hebei, China: analysis of anthropometric data using clustering approach. ERGONOMICS 2023:1-8. [PMID: 38044671 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2289855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Lower limb body shape is important in the design of functional pants. The skin, muscles, and body shapes of the lower limbs of wheelchair users may differ from healthy people because of the different shapes of their legs and the prolonged seating position. This study aimed to classify the shapes of the lower limbs of adult female wheelchair users. The lower body measurement of 384 female wheelchair users was obtained. The principal component analysis and two-step cluster analysis were used to categorise the body shapes into three different types and five different size standards. Based on the study findings, female wheelchairs have larger waist, belly, and hip circumferences than healthy individuals, with 89.3% of them having prominent hips. Therefore, the design and production of trousers for wheelchair users should take into consideration the classification of lower limb shapes and sizes reported in this study.Practitioner summary: This work initiated the investigation of human body size assessment of clothes for handicapped persons in China, allowing paraplegic female wheelchair users to wear adapted trousers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xing
- Institute for Design and Art, Hebei Academy of Fine Arts, Shijiazhuang, China
- The Design School, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | | | - Wan Syazehan Ruznan
- Department of Textile and Clothing, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
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Salgueiro-Oliveira A, Rêgo ADS, Santos-Costa P, Bernardes RA, Filipe L, Sousa LB, Barboza R, Carvalho M, Bouçanova M, Lopes MCFDG, Apóstolo JA, Parreira P. Design of Innovative Clothing for Pressure Injury Prevention: End-User Evaluation in a Mixed-Methods Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6773. [PMID: 37754632 PMCID: PMC10530919 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20186773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The global relevance of pressure injury (PI) prevention technologies arise from their impact on the quality of life of people with limited mobility and the costs associated with treating these preventable injuries. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to evaluate the design of a prototype integrating Smart Health Textiles for PI prevention based on feedback from specialist nurses who care for individuals who are prone to or have PIs. This is a mixed methods study. A structured questionnaire was conducted as part of an evaluation of a prototype garment for the prevention of PIs. This questionnaire was applied during the evaluation of the prototype and afterwards focus group discussions were held with experts. Descriptive statistics techniques were used to analyze the data and thematic and integrated content analysis was conducted through concomitant triangulation. Nineteen nurses took part, aged 30 to 39 years (52.6%) and with 12.31 ± 8.96 years of experience. Participants showed that the prototype required more manipulation and physical effort, which interfered its usefulness, in addition to presenting difficulties with the openings and the material of the closure system, which interfered with the ease of use and learning. Overall satisfaction with the product was moderate, with some areas for improvement found, such as satisfaction, recommendations to colleagues, and pleasantness of use. It is concluded that areas for improvement have been found in all dimensions, including in the design of openings and the choice of materials. These findings supply significant insights for improving clothing to meet the needs of healthcare professionals and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Salgueiro-Oliveira
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
| | - Anderson da Silva Rêgo
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
| | - Paulo Santos-Costa
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
| | - Rafael A. Bernardes
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
| | - Luísa Filipe
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
| | - Liliana B. Sousa
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
| | - Rochelne Barboza
- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal (M.C.)
| | - Miguel Carvalho
- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal (M.C.)
| | - Maria Bouçanova
- Impetus Portugal-têxteis Sa (IMPETUS), 4740-696 Barcelos, Portugal
| | | | - João A. Apóstolo
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
| | - Pedro Parreira
- Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal (R.A.B.); (L.B.S.); (J.A.A.)
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Sotak KL, Serban A, Friedman BA, Palanski M. Perceptions of Ethicality: The Role of Attire Style, Attire Appropriateness, and Context. JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS : JBE 2023; 189:1-27. [PMID: 36818159 PMCID: PMC9918841 DOI: 10.1007/s10551-023-05347-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Professional attire has traditionally been regarded as a sign of ethicality. However, recent trends towards a more casual workplace may have altered the general public's attire-based perceptions. To determine whether these trends have rendered the association between professional attire and ethicality obsolete, we draw on signaling theory and we examine, in two laboratory studies with working samples, the main effects of attire style (i.e., business formal, business casual, casual) on perceptions of employee ethicality. We also assess the mediating effects of attire appropriateness, the moderating effects of context (industry type), as well as their combined moderated-mediation effects in the relation between attire style and the outcome of interest. We find that casual attire is perceived as less ethical than business casual attire in both studies but is perceived as less ethical than business formal attire in the first study only. Moreover, the effect of attire style on perceptions of ethicality is mediated by perceptions of attire appropriateness. Lastly, we found inconclusive results for the moderated-mediation model, which suggest a more intricate effect of industry type than originally proposed. Three subsequent focus groups with working professionals provided additional insights into our findings and revealed workplace-relevant outcomes associated with perceptions of ethicality. Theoretical and practical implications, study limitations, and future research avenues are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Lee Sotak
- Department of Marketing and Management, SUNY Oswego, 7060 NY-104, Oswego, NY 13126 USA
| | - Andra Serban
- Department of Management, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA
| | - Barry A. Friedman
- Department of Marketing and Management, SUNY Oswego, 7060 NY-104, Oswego, NY 13126 USA
| | - Michael Palanski
- Saunders College of Business, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, USA
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Arruda LM, Moreira IP, Sanivada UK, Carvalho H, Fangueiro R. Development of Piezoresistive Sensors Based on Graphene Nanoplatelets Screen-Printed on Woven and Knitted Fabrics: Optimisation of Active Layer Formulation and Transversal/Longitudinal Textile Direction. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15155185. [PMID: 35897616 PMCID: PMC9369725 DOI: 10.3390/ma15155185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Although the force/pressure applied onto a textile substrate through a uniaxial compression is constant and independent of the yarn direction, it should be noted that such mechanical action causes a geometric change in the substrate, which can be identified by the reduction in its lateral thickness. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the fabric orientation on both knitted and woven pressure sensors, in order to generate knowledge for a better design process during textile piezoresistive sensor development. For this purpose, these distinct textile structures were doped with different concentrations of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), using the screen-printing technique. The chemical and physical properties of these screen-printed fabrics were analysed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Ground State Diffuse Reflectance and Raman Spectroscopy. Samples were subjected to tests determining linear electrical surface resistance and piezoresistive behaviour. In the results, a higher presence of conductive material was found in woven structures. For the doped samples, the electrical resistance varied between 105 Ω and 101 Ω, for the GNPs’ percentage increase. The lowest resistance value was observed for the woven fabric with 15% GNPs (3.67 ± 8.17 × 101 Ω). The samples showed different electrical behaviour according to the fabric orientation. Overall, greater sensitivity in the longitudinal direction and a lower coefficient of variation CV% of the measurement was identified in the transversal direction, coursewise for knitted and weftwise for woven fabrics. The woven fabric doped with 5% GNPs assembled in the weftwise direction was shown to be the most indicated for a piezoresistive sensor, due to its most uniform response and most accurate measure of mechanical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa M. Arruda
- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (I.P.M.); (U.K.S.); (H.C.); (R.F.)
- Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fibre-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Inês P. Moreira
- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (I.P.M.); (U.K.S.); (H.C.); (R.F.)
- Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fibre-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Usha Kiran Sanivada
- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (I.P.M.); (U.K.S.); (H.C.); (R.F.)
- Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fibre-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Helder Carvalho
- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (I.P.M.); (U.K.S.); (H.C.); (R.F.)
| | - Raul Fangueiro
- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (I.P.M.); (U.K.S.); (H.C.); (R.F.)
- Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fibre-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
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Schneider M, Suich H. Measuring Disability Inclusion: Feasibility of Using Existing Multidimensional Poverty Data in South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094431. [PMID: 33921932 PMCID: PMC8122500 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a framework for measuring disability inclusion in order to examine the associations between disability severity and levels of inclusion, provides an example of its operationalization, and assesses the feasibility of using an existing dataset to measure disability inclusion using this framework. Inclusion here refers to the extent to which people with disabilities are accepted and recognized as individuals with authority, enjoy personal relationships, participate in recreation and social activities, have appropriate living conditions, are able to make productive contributions, and have required formal and informal support. Indicators for the operationalization were drawn from the Individual Deprivation Measure South Africa country study and were mapped on to the domains of inclusion (where relevant), and the Washington Group Short Set of questions were used to determine disability status (no, mild, or moderate/severe disability). The analysis indicates that individuals with disabilities experience generally worse outcomes and a comparative lack of inclusion compared to individuals without disabilities, and broadly that those with moderate or severe disabilities experience worse outcomes than those with mild disabilities. This analysis also provides insight into the limitations of using existing datasets for different purposes from their original design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marguerite Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- Correspondence:
| | - Helen Suich
- Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia;
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