Determinants of the number of ATDs used by community-dwelling people recovering from stroke with mild cognitive impairments: A path analysis.

Objective: This study examined the associative relationships among age, cognition, anxiety, and participation in explaining the number of Assistive Technology Devices (ATDs) used by stroke survivors through path analysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 196 community-dwelling stroke survivors. Data on ATD usage, cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), and participation (Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation) were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Amos 24.0. Results: The modified path model demonstrated a good fit to the data. Age, anxiety, and participation had direct effects on the number of ATDs used, while cognition did not show a statistically significant effect. Anxiety also had an indirect effect through participation, indicating a dual role of participation in either increasing or reducing ATD reliance. Age influenced anxiety and participation both directly and indirectly. Conclusions: This study identified the pathways through which age, anxiety, and participation influence ATD usage among stroke survivors. Given the complexity of interplay of psychological and functional factors, ATD prescriptions should adopt a user-centered approach, considering participation levels, psychological responses, and environmental factors to optimize effectiveness and long-term use.