NIDILRR ARRT: Assessing Mobile Device Proficiency for a Smart Home Intervention in Individuals with Complex Disabilities

Abstract

Objectives

To determine whether an observation-based mobile device assessment is needed to assess mobile device skills of individuals with complex disabilities and used for treatment planning for using smart devices.

Design

This case series study, part of a larger research project, involved participants completing a short version of the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire (MDPQ-16) and participating in an observational assessment of mobile device skills. The assessment included 5 tasks and observational guidelines on device positioning, manual and voice access, and cognitive aspects.

Setting

Participants’ homes.

Participants

A convenience sample of 13 individuals who use a power wheelchair and have difficulty independently controlling or accessing their environment.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

MDPQ-16 and identified mobile device skill performance.

Results

Eleven out of 13 participants completed the MDPQ-16, with an average score of 31±9 (range, 16-40; maximum 40 for top proficiency). Twelve completed the mobile device assessment. Five used Android and 8 used iOS. Five used voice input (voice control and voice assistant), 4 used touch, and 2 used both methods. Five participants (MDPQ range, 36-40) had no noted difficulties during mobile device assessment. The other 8 (MDPQ range, 16-39) exhibited diverse device skill performance stemming from device mounting and positioning challenges, motor impairments affecting touch gesture and/or typing precision, limited familiarity with the accessibility features, insufficient digital literacy, and outdated devices lacking necessary features.

Conclusions

Relying solely on the MDPQ-16 yielded inadequate insight into participants’ mobile device skills. The observation-based mobile device assessment revealed specific areas of knowledge or functional gaps, enabling clinicians to tailor necessary skill training and adaptation recommendations. The MDPQ-16 is an inadequate assessment to use alone when understanding participants’ mobile device skills but should be used in conjunction with an observation-based mobile device assessment to ensure foundational mobile device proficiency is achieved prior to smart technology training.

Disclosures

Gina Novario, OTD, OTR/L, is the current Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training Fellow in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2021 with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. She is currently on the Smart Home Service Delivery and Funding and Policy Study Projects at the University of Pittsburgh's Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Technologies for People with Disabilities.