Assistive technology and quality of life for people with tetraplegia: bioethical approach

Abstract

The objective of this quantitative-transversal study was to evaluate the quality of life of people with tetraplegia and, from its results, to carry out a bioethical reflection directed to the actions necessary to improve care practices and access to assistive technology resources. The WHOQOL-bref questionnaire was applied to 100 individuals with tetraplegia, whether or not users of assistive technologies, and the results were treated statistically. The highest significant scores were related to: female gender, higher educational levels, occupation, longer injury time and use of assistive technology. Bioethical reflections, based on Gilligan’s Ethics of Care and Latin American Social Bioethics, have pointed to the need to improve the interrelationships around care and to formulate intersectoral public policies to protect vulnerabilities that would guarantee the following to people with spinal cord injury: clinical
and sociodemographic notification, digital inclusion, home adaptation, access to technologies and special jobs.