Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology最新文献

Objectives: This study presents the conceptualization, design, and structural validation of a cost-effective, fully mechanical multifunctional wheelchair-cum-stretcher tailored for enhanced accessibility and ergonomic adaptability in Indian home-care and low-resource clinical settings.

Methods: The system integrates a manual transformation mechanism that transitions the seating configuration from a conventional wheelchair to a stretcher and further to a ground-level posture. The design conforms to Indian anthropometric data and national standards (IS 7454:2024, IS 2556:2024, IS 2064:1993), enabling compatibility with typical sanitary fixtures and narrow architectural spaces. Material selection was guided by hygiene requirements, strength-to-weight ratio, and manufacturability, leading to the adoption of SS304 rectangular tubing. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was conducted under load cases based on human body segment distribution to validate structural safety.

Results: FEA validation demonstrates robust structural performance, yielding a minimum factor of safety of 2.9 and acceptable deformation limits under specified loading conditions.

Conclusions: The proposed solution bridges critical gaps in assistive mobility technology for low-income and elderly users in resource-constrained environments, ensuring comfort, hygiene access, and robust mechanical performance without dependence on electricity or specialized components.

Purpose: People with motor neurone disease can quickly progress to using power wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility. Clarification of how power wheelchairs and their power seat functions impact daily life is needed to assist clinical and funding decisions. This study identified the impacts that people with motor neurone disease perceive their power wheelchairs have on their health and participation in activities and life roles.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey was conducted online with people with motor neurone disease using power wheelchairs in New Zealand. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis.

Results: Responses (n = 24) indicated that power wheelchairs positively impact people's psychological health, including happiness (15/24; 63%), self-esteem (14/24; 59%), and inclusion (18/24; 75%), and participation in valued activities, particularly outside of the home (18/24; 75%). All power seat functions were utilised. Qualitative analysis revealed themes around the impact of power wheelchairs: (1) Freedom and choice to participate in valued activities, (2) Enabling social interaction, and (3) Self-managing physical and psychological health.

Conclusion: Power wheelchairs profoundly impact people's psychological health and participation. The psychological and participation-related benefits of power wheelchairs indicate a strong health and economic rationale for including power seat elevation, along with other power seat functions.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the key conditions necessary for the effective use of information and communication technology (ICT) in educational settings, considering the perspectives of students with physical disabilities, their families, teachers and rehabilitation professionals.

Materials and methods: The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach, combining semi-structured individual interviews and participant observations at two special-needs schools in northern Japan. Participants included two students with physical disabilities, two family members, three teachers and three rehabilitation professionals. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. Triangulation of data sources and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist were utilised to enhance credibility and transparency.

Results: Ten participants contributed to the study. Four key themes were identified: (1) supportive environmental factors; (2) safety considerations in ICT use; (3) purposeful and goal-oriented use and (4) balanced functional demands. The findings highlight that meaningful ICT implementation requires not only the provision of appropriate technology but also comprehensive environmental support, consideration of physical and cognitive burdens, goal-directed application and gradual developmental preparation.

Conclusions: ICT is not a panacea. To achieve its maximum potential, it must be introduced in specific contexts, tailored to the developmental stage of the child's communication abilities. Additionally, ICT must be applied in a safe environment with a supportive and collaborative network to ensure its effectiveness in enhancing communication skills.

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the socio-cultural considerations for home modifications among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Iran.

Materials and methods: A descriptive qualitative design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 18 participants. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes and subthemes.

Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) Holding out hope for recovery from SCI, (2) Absence of home modifications led to unique solutions but potential risks, and (3) Occupational therapy recommendations regarding home modifications need to be culturally safe. Participants often received misinformation about their prognosis, leading to delayed or avoided home modifications.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of providing accurate information regarding SCI prognosis to facilitate the implementation of needed home modifications. Occupational therapists and other health care professionals are advised to consider cultural factors, including practices related to values such as privacy, to ensure that recommendations are client-centered, effective, and culturally adaptable. This study highlights the necessity of developing culturally sensitive guidelines for home modifications and emphasize the critical role of involving in decision-making process, and improving access to appropriate assistive technology.

Population ageing, multi-morbidity and associated disability is shifting global demand for health and care services. Innovative solutions are required to meet the evolving needs of people with advanced disease, support independent functioning and quality of life. This scoping review aimed to map and examine evidence on the role of assistive technology in adults with advanced disease and those receiving palliative care. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and Cinahl, was conducted from inception to 31^st July 2024 for studies investigating use of assistive technologies in people with advanced disease or receiving palliative care. Titles and abstracts were independently screened before full texts retrieved for eligibility review, data extraction, synthesis and descriptive analysis. 23/811 screened papers met eligibility criteria. Participants included ALS/MND (n13/23); palliative care (n4/23); cancer (n2/23); dementia (n2/23); Parkinson's (n1/23) and frailty (n1/23). Studies evaluated assistive technologies supporting ten functional domains; most frequently to support communication and information management (n13/23), least frequently orthoses and prosthesis, and domestic activities and participation in domestic life (n1/23). Outcomes of assistive technology use related to functioning, quality of life, dignity in end-of-life care and health service use. Implications for individual users, device design and delivery are discussed. This review highlights potential benefits of assistive technologies and gaps in research on their use for adults with advanced disease or receiving palliative care. Empirical evidence is limited and focuses on communication enhancing high-tech devices. Future research should explore assistive technology's impact over time on health outcomes, alongside strategies to integrate provision in care.

The present study provides a systematic thematic and bibliometric analysis of articles published in the journal "Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology" from 2006 to 2025. The PRISMA framework and Bibliometrix software were utilised to analyse 1,884 articles indexed in Web of Science, with the objective of elucidating research trends, conceptual structures, and collaboration networks in the domain of assistive technology (AT). The findings indicate a significant rise in scholarly interest, particularly post-2020, with themes focusing on physical rehabilitation, cognitive-emotional support, user-centred design, accessibility, and inclusion. The present study adopts an interdisciplinary theoretical framework integrating the International Classification of Functioning (ICF), the social model of disability, and technology acceptance theories. The results demonstrate a transition from device-oriented research to user experience and social impact, reflecting the evolving nature of assistive technology (AT) as both a clinical tool and a driver of social participation. The United States and Canada are at the vanguard of global AT research, characterised by a high level of international collaboration. The objective of this comprehensive analysis is to inform future research, policy-making, and inclusive innovation strategies by mapping current knowledge and identifying conceptual and geographic gaps in the AT literature.

Discussion and conclusions: This exploratory study provides preliminary insights into how age-related stigma impacts the adoption of technology-based interventions in rehabilitation practices. Our goal is to raise awareness about how our assumptions regarding aging can influence the quality of care provided to older adults.

Objective: This study will assess the feasibility, acceptance, and preliminary efficacy of a novel and engaging task-oriented UE training program, Strength and Power in upper Extremities through Exploratory Driving (SPEED), including joystick-operated ride-on toys, as a therapy adjunct, to advance UE function among children with hemiplegia.

Methods: We will conduct a randomized controlled trial to compare SPEED training to a dose-matched program, Creative Rehabilitation for Arm Function Training (CRAFT), based on standard-of-care. 30 children with hemiplegia between 3 and 9 years will be recruited. Training will last 6 weeks, 4 times/week, 2 sessions by researchers (30-45 min/session) and 2 sessions by caregivers (15-20 min/session). The SPEED group will engage in playful games including ride-on toys and the CRAFT group will complete seated, fine motor activities. The primary outcome measure is treatment adherence. Secondary measures include participant retention, perceived satisfaction, implementation fidelity scores, child engagement, wrist-worn accelerometry, kinematics, scores on the Shriner's Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation, Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, and the ABILHAND-Kids questionnaire, grip strength assessment, and measures of navigational control.

Impact: We propose a community-based, innovative, task-oriented training including modifiedride-on toys to promote self-initiated use of the affected UE in young children with hemiplegia. Study findings have implications for the adoption of the SPEED program by families as an adjunct to conventional therapy to increase children's functional use of their affected arm through playful exploration.

Despite the rising prevalence of hearing loss worldwide, underutilization of hearing aids persists. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) hearing services have emerged as a potential solution to address barriers in conventional audiology services. This scoping review investigates the challenges and opportunities associated with direct-to-consumer service delivery in audiology. This review followed the Arksey and O'Malley and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search of four databases and gray literature identified 12,034 records. Studies published in English between January 2015 and October 2024 were included if they explored challenges or opportunities in DTC hearing care service delivery from the perspectives of users aged 18 years or older with hearing loss or healthcare providers. After the screening and full-text review, 24 studies were included. The identified barriers included lack of professional guidance, safety concerns, limited user awareness and trust issues. Opportunities included improved accessibility, cost-effectiveness, integration of DTC into audiological practice, interprofessional collaboration, patient education and research comparing DTC and traditional service models. While DTC models can enhance access to hearing healthcare, overcoming challenges such as user education, trust, and professional involvement is crucial. Task shifting to other healthcare providers has emerged as a crucial strategy for enhancing service efficiency. The findings emphasise the need for a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to optimize DTC service delivery and inform future policy and practice.

Aim: Well-designed assistive devices improve the quality of life of individuals with severe and permanent impairments and reduce the burden on their caregivers. This study investigated whether interactive smart agents (ISAs) are effective in supporting individuals who are affected by neurological conditions causing severe mobility issues, and the factors aiding ISAs' adoption.

Materials and methods: The North Thames Regional Environmental Control Equipment Services (NTRECES) supported this study by recruiting service users (people with severe mobility impairments due to neurological ailments) in the study. Health Research Authority approval was obtained (255096). NTRECES prescribes medical-grade environmental control (EC) devices, unlike smart speakers (ISAs). Research on ISA adoption by NTRECES users could support prescribing ISAs as assistive EC devices in the future. Through secondary research and exploratory primary data, this user-centred study developed an initial technology adoption model, subsequently revised in light of the insights from a multi-point qualitative primary research.

Conclusion: This research uncovered that novelty, ease of voice interaction and its entertainment value play a key role in the adoption decision. Willingness to overlook reliability, privacy and security attributes was identified, providing that the service users had back-up devices for security and privacy critical tasks. The originality of this work consists in the development of a technology adoption model tailored to consider the characteristics of service users with severe physical disabilities and the attributes of ISAs technology. The research contributes to the discussion on contextual factors and technology design features that may improve the inclusivity of ISAs and their use as medical devices.