Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology最新文献

{"title":"Need and access to assistive technology in Italy: results from the rATA survey.","authors":"Lorenzo Desideri, Riccardo Magni, Massimo Guerreschi, Claudio Bitelli, Evert-Jan Hoogerwerf, Concetta Vaccaro, Domenica Taruscio, Marta De Santis, Rosa Immacolata Romeo, Elena Ilaria Capuano, Giuseppe D'Avenio, Sandra Morelli, Carla Daniele, Paola Meli, Mirko Rossi, Antonia Pirrera, Mauro Grigioni, Daniele Giansanti","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2503905","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2503905","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Purpose:</b> This study assessed the prevalence of assistive products need, use, and access in Italy using the rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) tool.</p><p><p><b>Materials and Methods:</b> Conducted from June to September 2021, the survey involved a random sample of 10167 Italian citizens. Stratified sampling was used to ensure that the sample involved was representative of the Italian population. A combination of Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) was used.</p><p><p><b>Results:</b> The estimated prevalence of need in the population resulted of 52,6% with 45,8% reporting their needs as met and 6,7% experiencing unmet needs. Use and need were higher among older adults (60+ years). Logistic regression indicated that respondents aged 60+ (OR: 3,3; 95% CI: 2,8-3,8) and respondents reporting more severe functional difficulties (OR: 23,9; 95% CI: 19,4-29,6) are more likely to be users of assistive products. Younger respondents (0-17 years old) reported using on average more assistive products (<i>M</i> = 2,7; SD = 2,9) than adults (<i>M</i> = 1,6; SD = 1,7) and older users (<i>M</i> = 1,6; SD = 1,5) (all <i>p</i>s <.001). Notably, mobile digital devices (smartphones/tablets) are the second most used assistive products, preceded by spectacles and followed by pill organizers.</p><p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> This study provides essential baseline data to inform policies and improve AT access nationwide. The results highlight the importance of recognizing mainstream digital devices, such as commercially available smartphones, as legitimate assistive products. Secondary analyses will contribute to strengthen the understanding of factors associated to successful AT provision.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2327-2338"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144136492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilization and impact of assistive device use on mental health among children with disabilities in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Hussaini Zandam, Surajo Kamilu Sulaiman, Ashiru Hamza Mohammad, Abdulwali Sabo","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2524062","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2524062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Assistive devices (ADs) play a critical role in mitigating accessibility barriers and enhancing inclusion. Despite the global acknowledgment of the benefits of ADs, there is a notable lack of information on their utilization and impact in global south countries, including Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To explore the prevalence and factors associated with the use of ADs and examine the relationship of these ADs with anxiety and depression among disabled children in Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We conducted a retrospective analysis of the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), including data of 22,443 children aged between 5 and 17 who participated in the survey and answered the functioning module. Disability was screened using the Washington Group and UNICEF child functioning module. Logistics regression was used to estimate the odds (with 95% CI) of using ADs and associations with anxiety and depression among the children.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Shows that 43.2%, 37.2%, and 28.9% of those with seeing, hearing and walking difficulties are using ADs, respectively. Factors such as age, school attendance, and maternal education are associated with ADs use. Across the three difficulties, ADs users consistently had lower adjusted odds of depression and anxiety compared to non-users. For example, children with seeing difficulties who used ADs had lower odds of depression (aOR = 1.43 vs. 1.66) and anxiety (aOR = 1.48 vs. 1.74).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study revealed notable socioeconomic disparities in the access and utilization of ADs among disabled children. The disparity underscores the need for an overarching, multifaceted, and multisectoral approach to promote accessibility to ADs.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2094-2102"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144508863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Voice assistant for individuals in the acute phase of high tetraplegia.","authors":"Jiri Kriz, Josefina Balkova, Ladislav Skokan","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2524611","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2524611","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To create a voice assistant for patients with upper limb motor impairment during the acute phase of institutional care. To assess its functionality and user-friendliness among patients with high tetraplegia.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The Hugo voice assistant was developed to enable the use of a telephone, television, medical bed, and other devices through voice commands in Czech without the need for eye contact with the tablet's screen. The screen is utilized only for system setup and to check the functions, which the nursing staff can manage. Following an extensive risk analysis and the establishment of control mechanisms, a pilot study was conducted to monitor the usage of the voice assistant and its advantages and disadvantages.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten patients with an average age of 45.6 years participated in the study. All completed a questionnaire consisting of 23 questions. Most commonly, they began using the voice assistant within a week of receiving it, averaging 10 to 20 commands per day. The most frequent uses included calling medical staff and contacting loved ones while controlling the television or bed ranked third. Eight patients reported that the assistant had a positive impact on their psychological well-being, highlighting enhanced security and improved self-sufficiency as the most significant benefits.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The voice assistant is a valuable tool for patients with upper limb movement disorders caused by cervical spinal cord injury during the acute phase of hospitalization. It can help reduce social isolation and enhance psychological well-being following such significant physical and mental trauma.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2407-2414"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144530368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co-development of a configuration interface for the COOK cognitive orthosis for meal preparation: a human-centered design study with occupational therapists.","authors":"Mireille Gagnon-Roy, Mélanie Amaral Dos Santos, Hubert Kenfack Ngankam, Célia Lignon, Tommy Chalifoux, Sylvain Giroux, Marlène Gilles, Nathalie Bier, Carolina Bottari","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2522783","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2522783","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>People who sustain a traumatic brain injury can benefit from the use of assistive technologies for cognition, like the Cognitive Orthosis for coOKing (COOK). However, such tools may require personalization for effective use. Although COOK includes multiple personalization options, occupational therapists face challenges with understanding how to configure it due to its complexity and their lack of training. This study thus aimed to: (a) Co-develop a configuration interface that could provide a better User eXperience (UX) for occupational therapists when configuring COOK; and (b) Document the anticipated UX of a mock-up of the configuration interface. First, a mock-up of COOK's configuration interface, named Config My COOK, was co-developed. Second, a qualitative descriptive research design was used to explore the perspective of occupational therapists from Quebec and Ontario using six online focus groups involving 15 participants. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted. Occupational therapists highlighted three features that had the potential to enhance UX, like the appealing look and perceived intuitivity of the configuration interface, support offered by the interface, and access to features to personalize COOK to clients' needs. However, four features had the potential to lessen it, including anticipated training requirements, time required for the configuration process, data confidentiality, and anticipated complexity of interacting with the interface. To counteract these obstacles, occupational therapists identified improvement suggestions which could be completed in the prototype phase. The human-centered design approach enabled us to design a configuration interface to personalize COOK to specific clients' needs, and document its mock-up's anticipated UX with occupational therapists.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2068-2082"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144545492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rethinking social inclusion through assistive technologies.","authors":"","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2508387","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2508387","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2573-2574"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144102883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A mixed methods realist analysis of telehealth delivery of complex wheelchair assessment in Aotearoa New Zealand: contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes.","authors":"Fiona Graham, Laura Desha, Pauline Boland, Bernadette Jones, Sandie Grant, Rachel Brown, Jonathan Williman, Rebecca Grainger","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2492361","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2492361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study examined telehealth delivery of complex wheelchair assessment in Aotearoa New Zealand, specifically: what works, for whom, and in which contexts, with exploration of culturally specific factors for indigenous Māori.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A mixed methods realist evaluation was conducted with remote specialist assessors (physiotherapists and occupational therapists), on-site assistants, and wheelchair users. Interviews/focus groups, mobility goal achievement, satisfaction, and fidelity of tele-delivered assessment of wheelchair and seating (tAWS) contributed to Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations (CMOc).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four remote specialist assessors delivered tAWS, but it was declined by on-site assistants in 78% of cases in which specialist assessors perceived it could work. When tAWS was delivered to wheelchair users (<i>N</i> = 5), the majority of goals were achieved, with high service satisfaction. CMOc's highlight the influence of system design in the uptake of telehealth by health professionals.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While therapists can navigate complexity for successful tAWS, therapist and system barriers limit its uptake, particularly confidence in conducting assessment and use of technology among the non-adopters. Telehealth specific training in culturally-responsive rehabilitation is recommended. This evaluation contributes to telehealth program theory and the mechanisms to be addressed for telehealth to meet its potential to enhance equity in health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2208-2220"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Power wheelchair driving analysis for people with motor disabilities using ANN classification.","authors":"Hicham Zatla, Bilal Tolbi, Fares Bouriachi","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2499189","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2499189","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present paper aims primarily to analyze the driving skills of patients with different pathologies using artificial neural networks. The evaluation of these patients' abilities to drive an electric wheelchair or power wheelchair shows that this battery-operated device can be dangerous for them when they present severe motor deficiencies. It is for this reason that it was deemed necessary to use a Power Wheelchair (PW) driving simulator in order to analyze, in an objective manner, their driving abilities. Consequently, an experimental study was carried out using the driving simulator at the Center for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Children (Centre de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation pour Enfants) in Flavigny-sur-Moselle in France. The error between the reference trajectories and the patient's calculated trajectories which was used as input for classification allowed obtaining the model for analyzing the driver's skills. This model was then used for identifying the familiarized and novice users. The evolution of the above-mentioned error turned out to be an important indicator for improving the quality of the patient's driving skills during the learning phase.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2290-2297"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wheelchair priorities of brain injury survivors and their caregivers: a cohort study.","authors":"Catherine Cooper Hay, Cadi Canen, Richelle L Gray, Jade Furl, Sarah Cox","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2524775","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2524775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The wheelchair provision process can be a challenging experience for individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the wheelchair priorities of new wheelchair users, determine how self-efficacy and social support may influence their experiences, and describe changes in social participation during the transition from inpatient rehabilitation to home.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Individuals with an acquired brain injury (<i>n</i> = 43) and their caregivers completed a structured interview before discharge; ∼50% were interviewed again at 4 months post-discharge (<i>n</i> = 21).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Wheelchair features rated as most important before discharge included fit, safety, comfort, and effectiveness. At the 4-month follow-up, the same items remained important, but ease of use and durability also became more important. Analysis comparing importance and performance indicated the focus areas at 4 month follow up were fit, safety, and dimensions. The subjects rated their self-efficacy (34.2/40) and perceived social support (6.3/7) as very high. Social participation improved from discharge to follow-up; however, this sample of wheelchair users continued to experience decreased satisfaction with social roles and responsibilities four months after returning home.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>For this sample of first-time wheelchair users, fit, safety, comfort, and dimensions were the most important components. This information can help guide clinicians as they prescribe wheelchairs for individuals with an acquired brain injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2118-2127"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144545494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietitians' perspectives on nutritional needs and inclusive software solutions for individuals with physical disabilities: a qualitative analysis.","authors":"Ayse G Zengul, Mohanraj Thirumalai, Brenda Bertrand, Paula Chandler-Laney, James H Rimmer, James O Hill, Elizabeth N Davis","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2548856","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2548856","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>While nutrition software is commonly used to promote healthy eating, little is known about Registered Dietitian Nutritionists' (RDNs) perspectives on using such technologies for people with physical disabilities (PWPDs). Therefore, this study aims to explore RDNs' experiences and perceptions about the nutritional needs of PWPDs and the use of nutrition software to enhance their practice for PWPDs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit the professional experiences of RDNs providing dietary counseling for PWPDs. Interviews were conducted remotely <i>via</i> video conferencing in the U.S. between 2022 and 2023 and transcribed for thematic analysis. Two independent researchers coded the transcriptions by engaging in reflexivity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten RDNs were interviewed, and recruitment continued until no new substantial themes were identified during the analysis. The main themes generated through analysis included (1) disability-related counseling challenges, (2) the need for personalized approaches, (3) current software limitations, (4) desired characteristics of nutrition software, and (5) the importance of enhanced communication channels. RDNs emphasized the need for disability-inclusive, accessible nutrition software with features like personalization, simplified energy calculations, and multi-method communication support to better serve PWPDs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings underscore the critical need for developing disability-inclusive nutrition software to support personalized dietary counseling for PWPDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2056-2067"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144974311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced Mist Bath Wheelchair with integrated automatic body drying and sanitization system for enhanced patient care.","authors":"Vijay Mahadeo Mane, Harshal Durge, Chin-Shiuh Shieh, Rajesh Dey, Rupali Mahajan","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2549899","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2025.2549899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As global populations age, a growing segment of older adults faces challenges with personal hygiene and reduced caregiver availability. This study presents the design and evaluation of a novel Mist Bath Wheelchair (MBWC) that integrates bathing, sanitization, and drying functionalities to enhance autonomy and hygiene for users with mobility impairments. The MBWC includes a servo-controlled posture adjustment system, an ultrasonic misting unit for bathing, foam-based moisture absorption, heated drying, and joystick-based mobility-all within a single framework. The system aims to address limitations in existing assistive bathing devices, such as high cost, lack of automation, and limited integration. A prototype was developed and tested through lab simulations and user trials involving four aging individuals and four caregivers. Key metrics included thermal comfort, time to achieve warmth, drying duration, and user satisfaction. Results showed reliable temperature maintenance (232 s in rainy conditions; 208 s in winter) and high usability ratings. This integrated solution demonstrates the feasibility of improving assisted bathing through a multifunctional and user-centric design.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe Advanced Mist Bath Wheelchair with an Integrated Automatic Body Drying and Sanitization System enhances hygiene management for individuals with mobility impairments by providing an efficient, touch-free bathing solution, reducing dependency on caregivers.This innovation promotes dignity and independence for users, especially those with severe disabilities, by enabling self-care in daily hygiene routines, thereby improving their quality of life and psychological well-being.The system's automated sanitization feature minimizes the risk of infections in rehabilitation and long-term care settings, contributing to a safer and more hygienic environment for both users and healthcare providers.By integrating assistive technology with rehabilitation care, the wheelchair supports faster recovery and improved mobility outcomes, particularly for patients undergoing post-surgical rehabilitation or those with chronic conditions requiring long-term assistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"2375-2391"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144974315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}