Article

In an aging society, it is increasingly important to understand how
assistive devices can be used by older people to maintain quality of life despite
chronic disabilities. Assistive technology is a mainstay of physical therapist
practice, but the potential for device use to affect psychosocial well-being is
not yet understood at the population level. The objective of this
study was to develop a parsimonious indicator that can be used in
population-based surveys to represent the effect of assistive technologies on
quality of life for older people, separate from personal assistance. DESIGN: This
study was a cross-sectional survey. METHODS: /b> The methods used in this study
were psychometric scale development and structural equation modeling. RESULTS:
The results indicated that a parsimonious, valid, and reliable scale reflecting
quality of life related to assistive device use can be created from 3 questions
designed to measure improvements in safety, control, and participation due to
technology. The findings also suggested that assistive technology may more
effectively improve quality of life for people with greater levels of functional
limitations. LIMITATIONS: The data were derived from a cross-sectional survey
conducted by telephone. The use of personal assistance, on average, was low;
thus, the applicability to a population with more profound care needs has yet to
be confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Determining the broader impact of assistive technology
on quality of life with population-level measures may provide insight into how
best to leverage technologies to prevent dependence in aging adults.

Langue : ANGLAIS