Evaluating the Impact of Mobility-Related Assistive Technology on the Lives of Disabled People: A Review of Outcome Measures

Abstract

Sixteen outcome measures that could be used within the field of mobility assistive technology were reviewed. The aim was to assess how these tools measured activity and participation in relation to mobility. Each measure considered some useful aspect of participation, but none took sufficient account of the needs of those with mobility impairments or could evaluate adequately the impact of different technologies. To support client-centred and evidence-based practice, an outcome measure that evaluates the impact of mobility assistive technology on activity and participation is required.

Power mobility skill progression for children and adolescents: a systematic review of measures and their clinical application

“…Several reviews, specific to adult populations, have evaluated measures addressing mobility-related assistive technologies. [25][26][27] To our knowledge, there are no published reviews of measures of power mobility skill appropriate for children at different stages of development. A recent survey of practitioners 28 suggested that standardized measures of power mobility skill are rarely used for children and adults, and most resort to non-standardized, locally developed checklists and protocols, perhaps because of a lack of robust, validated measures of power mobility skill or requirements to use funding agency-specific checklists.…”

Important elements of measuring participation for children who need or use power mobility: a modified Delphi survey

“…Parents comment on their child's enjoyment and ‘being engaged’ as two distinct descriptors, whereas researchers suggest a child's ‘self‐engagement’ refers to enjoyment, self‐determination, and an understanding that comes from participating . Others approach this differently, incorporating ‘satisfaction’ or exploring health‐related quality of life . Our participants’ comments reflect the significance of documenting enjoyment and engagement from the child's perspective: ‘Children who live in these chairs…matter most…Its all about them’, and ‘Our son decides what he is more comfortable doing.’ Within the pediatric power mobility literature, qualitative evidence describes significant changes for the child's and family's engagement and enjoyment upon power mobility provision; however, there is limited quantitative evidence of this .…”

“…24 Others approach this differently, incorporating 'satisfaction' or exploring health-related quality of life. 11,12,14,15 Our participants' comments reflect the significance of documenting enjoyment and engagement from the child's perspective: 'Children who live in these chairs. .…”

“…The lack of validated participation tools for this population has contributed to the paucity of evidence. 3,11,12 There are challenges to measuring participation in everyday life, including operationally defining participation, distinguishing participation from activity (within ICF framework 1,2 ), addressing objective (e.g. number of situations, frequency, location) versus subjective (e.g.…”

21the Wheelchair Project Case Study: Leveraging Collaborative Efforts and Partnerships to Provide Assitive Devices for People Affected by Disability in Thailand and Southeast Asia

“…Data shows that postural support and the proper use of mobility-aid-type assistive devices offers numerous benefits to the user and the community at large through the increased activity level that comes with independence, which has been clearly linked to better overall health, (Ploeg, Beek, Van Der Woude, & Mechelen, 2004; Barks, 2004) coordination, (Rochat, 1992) improved socialization and overall attitude. (Bray, Noyes, Edwards, & Harris, 2014) Use of mobility technologies have proved beneficial to respiratory and circulatory complications (Harris, Pinnington, & Ward, 2005) as well as directly contributing to mitigating a patient's decline in health (Harris et al, 2005 ;Ploeg et al, 2004 ; Summer, Oconnell, Macalpine, 2017). Additionally, a patient's emotional and mental health is positively correlated with improved mobility and independence (Rousseau-Harrison, & Rochette, 2012), particularly in instances of individuals who previously were without (Shore, 2017).…”