Assistive technology for older persons – analyses of data from WHO's Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment

Arne Henning Eide, Sebastien Müller, Chapal Khasnabis, Johan Borg, Mats Blakstad, Hasheem Mannan, Mitchell Elliott Loeb, Konstantinos Antypas, Wei Zhang

Abstract


Purpose With a growing population of older persons globally, the need for mainstream assistive technology (AT) as well as assistive technology specifically intended for older persons is on the increase. The association between age and functional limitations strongly indicates a growing demand due the current demographic development. There was however until recently limited data that can describe the situation, monitor development and compare between countries and populations. Quality data is essential for developing regional, national and international responses to current and future need for AT globally.  The Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) was launched on 16th May 2022 and highlights both  substantial gaps in provision of AT and AT related services globally and in particular in low- and middle-income countries. As part of the process leading up to the GReAT, World Health Organization and partners developed the "rapid Assistive Technology Assessment" (rATA) survey to enable data collection that for the first time can provide estimates of AT use and need in a global perspective. The purpose of this presentation is to present key indicators from rATA among older persons in the countries that participated in the global data collection. Method Data from recent, nationally representative rATA surveys of perceived use of and need and unmet need for AT among older persons (60 years and older) in more than 30 countries across all WHO regions will be analyzed against sex, rural/urban area and Human Development Index (HDI). Results It is expected that the results will reveal similarities across countries/regions in the association between AT use, need and unmet need and the demographic and socio-economic indicators. It is however also expected that we will demonstrate substantial differences in the levels of use, need and unmet need. These results are important for developing models for estimating needs and building broad-based evidence for developing AT programs in diverse contexts.

 

References

WHO (2022) Global Report on Assistive Technology. Geneva; World Health Organization.

Zhang, W., Eide, A. H., Pryor, W., Khasnabis, C., Borg, J. (2021) Measuring self-reported access to assistive technology using the WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment Questionnaire (rATA): protocol for a multi-country study. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 182, 3336.  https://doi.org/10.3390/

 

Keywords: assistive technology, older persons, global estimates

Address: SINTEF Digital, Oslo, Norway

Email: arne.h.eide@sintef.no

 

Acknowledgement This research was commissioned by the World Health Organization with funding from the Government of Norway and the AT2030 Program funded by UKAID, led by the Global Disability Innovation Hub


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