Available Assistive Technology Outcome Measures: Systematic Review.
Francesca Borgnis, Lorenzo Desideri, Rosa Maria Converti and 1 others
PMID 37782310WHAT IT FOUND
Assistive technology outcome measures are numerous but unevenly used.
Most tools cover wheelchairs and function, while satisfaction, communication, participation, and caregiver burden are assessed with fewer, less common measures. Choose a tool matched to the device and outcome.
Key findings
01The review included 50 articles and identified 53 assistive technology outcome instruments, but 34 instruments were mentioned only once.
02Functional efficacy was assessed in 36 of 50 papers, satisfaction in 28 of 50, and psychosocial impact in 12 of 50.
03Personal mobility and transportation products were studied in 32 of 50 papers, compared with 8 for communication and information management, 6 for domestic activities, and 2 for controlling and handling objects.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review included only English-language full-text original studies and excluded qualitative studies, books, chapters, letters, comments, abstracts without full text, and samples aged 18 years or younger. Only 50 articles were selected, and 34 instruments were mentioned only once. The review notes poor uniformity and concordance in the instruments used. Most included studies had small samples: 74% (39/53) involved 100 or fewer patients or caregivers, and 18% (7/39) involved 10 or fewer. Most studies did not report specific pathological conditions, and many used 'AT users' as a broad label. Most instruments were self-report questionnaires; only 8 studies reported objective clinician-administered measures, and administration time was reported in only 6 studies.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the list of outcome measures as proof that assistive technology improves function. The review reports which measures were used across 50 articles, and most included studies had small samples.