Jeffrey Jutai, PhD1 , Marcus J. Fuhrer, PhD2 , Louise Demers, PhD3 , and Frank DeRuyter, PhD4
1 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa;
2 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health;
3 Research Center, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal;
4 Division of Speech Pathology & Audiology, Duke University Medical Center
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to estimate the extent to which functional recovery after rehabilitation is related to the use of mobility assistive technology devices. Data were collected from a longitudinal cohort study of rehabilitation outcomes and device use. The main outcome measures were the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (applied cognitive, personal care and instrumental, and physical and movement scales) and the Short Form 36 (physical function scale). Regression analyses examined patterns of device use with age and measures of functional recovery. Measures of mobility were found to be consistent and reliable predictors of assistive device use. The present study adds to the body of emerging research suggesting that the relationship between assistive device prescription and rehabilitation outcome measures can be effectively and meaningfully modeled in populations of persons receiving rehabilitation services.
KEYWORDS:
assistive technology; outcomes; rehabilitation; functional recovery.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are members of the Consortium for Assistive Technology Research (CATOR, http://www.atoutcomes.org/). We express our appreciation to Wendy Coster, PhD, Stephen Haley, PhD, and Allan Jette, PhD, for providing data from the Rehabilitation Outcomes Study, an initiative of the Center for Rehabilitation Effectiveness, Boston University. Supported in part by Grants H133A010401 and H133A060062 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jeffrey W. Jutai, PhD, CPsych
Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences
Bachelor of Health Sciences Program
University of Ottawa
43 rue Templeton St., Salle/Room 109
Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6X1
Tél: 613-562-5800 ext.8218
Fax: 613-562-5632
Email: jjutai@uottawa.ca