Article

The aim of this study was to demonstrate experimentally that an
assistive technology (AT) intervention improves older AT users' activity
performance and satisfaction with activity performance and decreases their
caregivers' sense of burden. DESIGN: This study was a delayed intervention,
randomized control trial. Baseline data were collected on 44 community-dwelling
AT user-caregiver dyads in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Montreal, Quebec. The
primary outcome measures for AT users were the satisfaction and accomplishment
scales from the Assessment of Life Habits. The primary outcome measure for
caregivers was the Caregiver Assistive Technology Outcome Measure, which assessed
burden associated with dyad-identified problematic activities. RESULTS: After the
intervention, assistance users in the immediate intervention group reported
significantly increased satisfaction with activity performance (P < 0.001) and
improved accomplishment scores (P = 0.014). Informal caregivers in the immediate
intervention group experienced significantly decreased burden with the
dyad-identified problematic activity (P = 0.013). Participants in the delayed
intervention group experienced similar benefits after the intervention.
Improvements for both groups were mostly maintained 4 mos after the conclusion of
the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first experimental study to
demonstrate that the provision of AT decreases caregiver burden. If confirmed and
extended by subsequent research, the findings have significant policy and
practice implications and may enable health care providers to advocate for
improved access to AT provision and the related follow-up services.

Langue : ANGLAIS