関節リウマチ患者の携帯電話・スマートフォンの利用状況調査

Mobile and smart phones usage of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

要旨：関節リウマチ（RA）患者が，携帯電話，スマートフォンの操作で情報通信技術社会に適応できているか確認することを目的に調査を行った．日本RA友の会兵庫支部会員530名を対象に無記名の質問紙郵送調査を行い，有効な回答252名分を手部変形の重症度別に3群に分類し分析した．携帯電話等の利用において一般データと比較の結果，RA患者の中高年は通話・メールの利用が多く，若者はSNSを使っている傾向にあった．RA患者のメール利用率はどの年代でも低く，手指変形が少なからず携帯電話等の操作に影響し，通話利用が増える一因となった可能性もある．RA患者にとって携帯電話等は重要であり，今後はICT機器を利用した介入が作業療法には求められる．

　Information and communication technology (ICT) are essential in modern society. This study aims to determine whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can operate mobile and smart phones, and to clarify their operational problems. In this survey, 530 questionnaires were sent to Japan RA Friendship Association Hyogo Branch members, 252 anonymous responses were analyzed. The deformity of participants' hands was classified into three groups according to severity. Compared with general data on the use of mobile and smart phones, middle-aged and elderly people with RA made more calls and sent more emails, while young people tended to use SNS. RA patients' email usage rate was low among all ages, and the deformation of fingers minimally affected the operation of mobile and smart phones, which may have contributed to the increased use of telephone calls. Mobile and smart phones are important for RA patients, and occupational therapy is expected to require intervention using ICT devices in the future.