Discovering Provider Awareness of Mobility Assistive Technologies and Clinical Guidelines-A Comparative Analysis With Consumer Responses.
Chang Dae Lee, Sara Peterson, James Joseph and 5 others
PMID 38630061WHAT IT FOUND
Providers generally knew more about new mobility devices and assessment tools than consumers, but this varied by product.
Providers favored specialized websites and journals, while consumers relied on general internet searches and friends for information.
Key findings
01Providers were more aware of new technologies overall, though consumers knew more about specific items like the Surge Handrim.
02Providers had significantly higher awareness of assessment tools, with large gaps seen for the Transfer Assessment Instrument.
03Providers sourced information from non-social media websites and journals, whereas consumers relied on general internet searches and friends.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sampling method oversampled occupational and physical therapists, so the results may not represent all provider types equally. The survey did not cover all emerging products or guidelines, so current knowledge gaps may differ from those reported. Self-reported awareness may differ between providers and consumers due to different definitions of what constitutes 'knowing' about a topic.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that providers are universally more knowledgeable about all mobility technology. The study showed that consumers were more aware of certain specific devices, such as the Surge Handrim and Natural-Fit Handrim, than the providers surveyed.