Consumer Feedback to Steer the Future of Assistive Technology Research and Development: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: The overall objective of this project was to identify consumers' opinions of their needs and wants related to assistive technology (AT) in a systematic and quantitative manner via a questionnaire that can be used to validate existing and establish new research priorities. Methods: This pilot study describes questionnaire development, online implementation, and revisions considered to the questionnaire in preparation for conducting a nationwide survey. Data from a sample (N = 112) are presented. The pilot study was critical to refine the questions and ensure that meaningful information was being collected. Results: It was identified that revisions were warranted to provide more structure and allow for consumers to prioritize AT research efforts. Conclusion:The questionnaire results, although positively in favor of many of the technologies presented, are inconclusive to identify generalizable research priorities, thus expansion to a nationwide population is warranted.

The Voice of the Consumer: A Survey of Veterans and Other Users of Assistive Technology

“…We therefore consulted with the VERC to establish content validity, provided several openended questions to allow participants to provide feedback and ideas not mentioned in the survey, and based the content of the survey on responses provided by participants in our prior work. 19 Qualitative data from open-ended questions was factored heavily into the conceptualization of the research thrusts. In order to ensure that results of this survey accurately reflect current consumer needs, it should be repeated frequently.…”

“…The survey was designed to take less than 10 min to complete and was based on a previously conducted survey. 19 Participants could complete the survey online using a computer or any mobile device. Alternately, they had the option to contact a study coordinator to complete the questionnaire by phone or mail.…”

“…The next set of questions asked participants to provide individual rankings of importance of developing various technologies that were ranked highly in our previous survey. 19 The survey also required participants to rank these items against each other in terms of order of importance. Participants were asked how often they play an active role in the decisionmaking process when getting new mobility equipment and how often they receive adequate support to be able to maintain their assistive technology long term.…”

“…We conducted a pilot study of 112 individuals who use mobility-assistive technologies to characterize their needs and opinions. 19 In parallel, we also surveyed 161 professionals involved in the provision of mobility devices both within and outside VA. 31 These surveys revealed several themes that helped us to construct a preliminary road map, but a larger and more diverse sample of users was needed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the opinions of over 1,000 users of mobility-assistive technologies to inform a research agenda and identify priorities that are aligned with the goals and desires of the users.…”

The future of the provision process for mobility assistive technology: a survey of providers

“…In order to begin to inform a user-centered research agenda for mobility assistive technologies, we conducted a pilot study of 112 clients who use mobility assistive technologies to understand more fully their needs and wants. [14] Several themes emerged as priority strategic areas for future research: (1) assistive robotics, (2) smart home technologies, and (3) alternative power sources for mobility devices. However, healthcare professionals and technical experts involved in the provision of mobility assistive technologies were not part of that survey.…”