Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
represents the level by which they feel influenced by using the assigned aid. PIADS can
also be used to evaluate the user's expectations of the device. The questionnaire is either
filled out by the user or a caregiver and can be examined manually or with a specific
table to help this process.
The Individual Prioritised Problem Assessment (IPPA; Wessels et al. 2002) is an
instrument that assesses both the effectiveness of AT provision and “the extent to which
problems identified by an individual assistive technology user in his or her daily activi-
ties have been diminished as a result of the provision of assistive technology” (Wessels
et al. 2002, p. 141). The instrument is user/customer-centered because it assesses the
effectiveness in relation to the operations considered relevant by the user/customer. The
IPPA allows variations over time to be checked. After the opening interview, a follow-up
telephone conversation is held at least 3 months after the provision of an AT. The ini-
tial interview lasts about 10-30 min whereas the follow-up talk takes less than 15 min.
During the initial interview, the user/customer has to “identify the problems that he
or she experiences in everyday life and that he or she hopes are eliminated or dimin-
ished as a result of an AT provision” (Wessels et al. 2002, p. 142). The user/customer
is then asked to identify up to seven problems and for each of these to complete an
IPPA questionnaire. For each problem, the scores are assigned using a five-point Likert
scale in which the scores reflect the importance given by the customer/user to the activi-
ties and the difficulty associated with their execution. The total score is calculated by
adding the sum of the “importance” scores to the “difficulty” scores for each problem
and dividing the result by the total number of issues. The value obtained is “the total
average perceived inconvenience experienced by the client with respect to the problems
associated with daily activities” (Wessels et al. 2002, p. 142). The higher the score, the
more an individual perceives his or her life as being disturbed by these problems. The
IPPA score is recalculated during the follow-up interview when the user/customer reas-
signs a difficulty score for each problem reported in the initial interview. The problem
keeps the importance value that was assigned during the first interview. The difference
between the total IPPA score before and after the supply of AT indicates the “efficacy” of
the match and highlights any changes in the perceived discomfort about the problems
reported. The scores also indicate the level of satisfaction the customer/user has regard-
ing their initial expectations.
The Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale (FIATS; Ryan et al. 2006) measures
the multidimensional effects of an assistive device on families who have young children
with disabilities through eight related constructs (grouped into subscales) that include
child autonomy, caregiver relief, child contentment, performing activities, parent effort,
family and social interaction, caregiver supervision, and safety. These constructs analyze
the areas of child and family life that ATs can affect, such as the level at which a child can
perform activities independently (autonomy), the way he/she interacts with others (family
and social interaction), and any requests for attention from family members (supervision).
Parents fill out the FIATS, indicating their agreement/disagreement levels with 64 items
through a seven-point Likert scale. The FIATS also contains elements of an independent
subscale (technology acceptance) to measure the general receptivity of parents to AT
devices for their children. The 64 elements are divided into nine subscales. The final FIATS
score is calculated by the sum of the averages of the eight subscales. Increasing scores indi-
cate a positive overall impact on the lives of children and families, and decreasing scores
suggest a negative effect on the lives of children and families.
The Assistive Technology Outcomes Measurement System (ATOM; Weiss-Lambrou
2002; Lauer et al. 2006) is a device-specific measure that was developed to meet the need
