Assessing the Outcome of Mobility Assistive Technology (OMAT) in Daily Living: Preliminary Results in an Italian Sample

Abstract

AbstractThe World Health Organization has defined assistive technologies (AT) as the fourth pillar of global health and supported identifying AT outcomes among the five top priorities in AT research. In this framework, the research study OMAT (Outcomes of Mobility Assistive Technology in rehabilitation pathways) was developed by Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi. The OMAT study aims to develop and test the applicability of a model of rehabilitation pathway related to prosthetic interventions in the field of mobility: a multidisciplinary assessment of patients’ needs and expectations was made at baseline and after an adequate period of use of the prescribed assistive devices in everyday settings. To date, the study is ongoing. The present work aims to show the preliminary results of the OMAT research study, in particular its primary outcomes. Specifically, OMAT AT outcome assessment consists of 1) perceived effectiveness of assistive mobility products, 2) satisfaction of the intervention and 3) possible changes in quality of life. Among the recruited subjects (N = 32), most patients (87.5%) received only one mobility assistive product, especially bimanual self-propelled wheelchairs. Patients used the received mobility assistive products for 3–6 months, with a good frequency (few-days/ week) and moderate support. Preliminary results showed a positive impact of assistive mobility products in terms of perceived effectiveness, intervention satisfaction, and quality of life. Interestingly, patients showed improved quality of life, showing a significant decrease of the severity degree in problems identified at baseline evaluation. Further studies will be conducted to replicate these promising results in a larger sample.