Article

Purpose: To determine changes in self-rated health in comparison with
age peers (SRH-AP) among 55-64-year-olds, as affected by (1) initiating, (2)
ceasing, and (3) prolonging the use of assistive technology (AT). Methods: Data
included two national cohorts of 55-64-year-olds from the Longitudinal Aging
Study Amsterdam (total N = 1968), with baseline cycles in 1992-93 and 2002-03 and
3-year follow-ups. The effect of AT use on SRH-AP was studied in analyses of
variance for repeated measurements, adjusting for age and self-reported
disability. Results: Respondents using AT reported poorer SRH-AP than respondents
not using AT. Over time disability increased for respondents prolonging and
initiating AT use and decreased for respondents ceasing AT use. No major changes
were seen in SRH-AP over time, except for a small improvement for respondents
prolonging AT use. Conclusions: AT use had a negative influence on SRH-AP, but
this influence subsided over time for prolonged AT use. Despite longitudinal
changes in disability, there was a marked stability of SRH-AP over time which may
be attributed to AT use. Implications for Rehabilitation Both the proportion of
55-64-year-olds using AT and the proportion reporting disability was
significantly higher in the recent cohort as compared to the early cohort.
55-64-Year-olds not using AT rated their health compared with age peers (SRH-AP)
better than those using AT. 55-64-Year-olds who prolonged the use of AT reported
the poorest ratings of SRH-AP, but also showed the clearest improvement in
SRH-AP, suggesting that the initial negative influence of AT use on SRH-AP may
subside over time.

Langue : ANGLAIS