Mainstream Smart Home Technology-Based Intervention to Enhance Functional Independence in Individuals With Complex Physical Disabilities: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study.
Dan Ding, Lindsey Morris, Gina Novario and 4 others
PMID 40272873WHAT IT FOUND
In this single-group pilot, 17 adults with complex physical disabilities improved their self-reported independence on 74.8% of targeted tasks after receiving a structured smart home intervention.
Participants reported higher satisfaction, but the lack of a control group means these gains cannot be attributed solely to the technology.
Key findings
01After the intervention, 74.8% of the 127 addressed tasks showed a shift from requiring assistance to achieving independence.
02Self-perceived task performance improved significantly from a baseline mean of 2.6 to 8.8 after training.
03The average cost for devices and installation was US $3308 per participant, staying within the US $5000 study allowance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Single-group pre-post design limits causal conclusions; improvements could be due to attention or other factors. Outcomes were collected by the treating OTs, risking social desirability bias. Small sample size (17 participants) limits generalizability. Did not include 3-month follow-up data to assess sustained use. Cost analysis did not account for clinician time. Excluded open-source or free technology alternatives.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this intervention is cost-effective for routine practice because the study provided up to US $5000 per participant for devices and installation, and the cost analysis did not include the substantial clinician time required for setup and training.