Measuring Self-Reported Access to Assistive Technology Using the WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) Questionnaire: Protocol for a Multi-Country Study

Abstract

In 2018, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on improving access to assistive technology (AT), and mandated the WHO to prepare a global report on assistive technology based on the best available evidence and international experience. As limited data on access to AT at country and global levels were available, there was a need to conduct representative population surveys in order to inform the development of the global report, national AT programs, and global initiatives. The objective of this protocol is to describe a multi-country study of access to assistive technology in six self-reported areas: use, source, payer, satisfaction, unmet need, and barriers. In collaboration with WHO Regional and Country offices, Member States, and other stakeholders, the Assistive Technology Access team in WHO coordinates the study. Data are collected through household surveys using the rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) questionnaire. Findings from the surveys will be published in the global report.

Exploring the Use of Washington Group Questions to Identify People with Clinical Impairments Who Need Services including Assistive Products: Results from Five Population-Based Surveys

“…Future research could consider asking participants about reported functional difficulties without assistance/APs as well which collects important quality of services data. The WHO Rapid Assessment of Assistive Technology [ 51 , 52 ] uses the WG Short Set with this modification and includes an additional survey section which asks about broader AP use; however, this sole modification generates non-comparable WG functioning data so is not a viable approach.…”

Measuring Access to Assistive Technology using the WHO rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) questionnaire in Guatemala: Results from a Population-based Survey

“…Self-report assessment is typically lower cost, quicker and requires fewer human resources compared to clinical assessment (Boggs et al, 2019(Boggs et al, , 2020. It also, importantly, incorporates consumer choice, and individuals' understanding of their need, uptake and benefit from AT which is crucial for developing AT services (Zhang et al, 2021). However, there are limitations of this approach, with evidence suggesting it can both under-and over-estimate AT need (Mactaggart, Kuper, Murthy, Oye & Polack, 2016;Boggs et al, 2019Boggs et al, , 2020Boggs et al, , 2021bBoggs, Polack, Kuper & Foster, 2021c).…”

“…When clinical information and problem solving are lacking, and AP awareness is limited, it may be challenging for people to know which factors to consider in self-assessing for APs. The rATA does recommend use of an AP image booklet to enhance participants' understanding of specific APs (Zhang et al, 2021). However, self-assessment of AT need is still challenging and particularly for less familiar APs (e.g., Hearing…”

“…A key factor hindering the planning and strengthening of AT is the lack of data on the population-level need and unmet need. To address the AT data gap, WHO's Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) developed a new self-reported AT tool, the rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) (World Health Organisation, 2021b;Zhang, Eide, Pryor, Khasnabis & Borg, 2021). The rATA is an interview-administered population-based survey tool for collecting standardised data on AT in different contexts in six self-reported areas: use, source, payer, satisfaction, unmet need, and barriers (World Health Organisation, 2021b; Zhang et al, 2021).…”

“…To address the AT data gap, WHO's Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) developed a new self-reported AT tool, the rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) (World Health Organisation, 2021b;Zhang, Eide, Pryor, Khasnabis & Borg, 2021). The rATA is an interview-administered population-based survey tool for collecting standardised data on AT in different contexts in six self-reported areas: use, source, payer, satisfaction, unmet need, and barriers (World Health Organisation, 2021b; Zhang et al, 2021). In addition to contributing to global data, the rATA is also designed to inform AT programme development and monitoring at country or sub-country levels.…”