Article

This article proposes a conceptual underpinning for and examines the
validity of the Youth Evaluation of Products (YEP) scale when used to measure the
AT device attitudes of youth. METHOD: Consumer socialization is promoted to
improve the utility of an AT device selection framework for children and youth
and inform the development of the YEP scale. A descriptive, qualitative
mixed-methods design explored the validity of the scale when used by six manual
wheelchair users, aged 11-14 years, to evaluate a new pushrim-activated,
power-assisted wheelchair. Three youth participated in a subsequent focus group
to share how they assessed wheelchair products. RESULTS: The items and dimensions
of the YEP scale corresponded well to participants' views about wheelchairs.
CONCLUSIONS: Consumer socialization provides a new way to understand the
developing role of youth as AT consumers and the YEP scale is emerging as a way
to measure their product attitudes. When integrated with contemporary thinking
about the assessment and selection of AT devices, providers and parents may be
better able to incorporate the product perspectives of youth during this shared
decision-making process. [Box: see text].

Langue : ANGLAIS