Assistive Devices: Usage in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
By de Boer, L.G.; Peeters, A.J.; Ronday, H.K.; Mertens, B.J.A.; Huizinga, T.W.J.; Vliet Vlieland, T.P.M.; Clinical Rheumatology, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 119-128Publication Date: February 2009
Study assessed possession and usage of assistive devices in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Study participants were 240 patients with RA in three outpatient rheumatology clinics in the Netherlands. Main measures were questionnaires and a semi-structured interview regarding the possession and usage of 21 common assistive devices in 5 categories according to the International Organization for Standardization Classification of Assistive Products for Persons with Disability (ISO 9999): (1) orthopedic footwear; (2) personal care, such as shower chairs and sock aids; (3) mobility, including walkers and scooters; (4) household, such as reachers and electric can openers; and (5) adaptations for housing, such as stair lifts and grab bars. Results revealed 89 percent of participants possessed one or more assistive devices. The proportions of participants never using a device in possession varied between 8 percent for orthopedic insoles and 23 percent for grab bars. Although varying among categories, common factors related to usage were a specific impairment or disability, satisfaction with the device or related services, self-efficacy, and the number of devices in possession. Overall, satisfaction rates with assistive devices were high. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Published by: Springer Publishing Company (Website:http://www.springerpub.com)
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