Measuring Self-Reported Access to Assistive Technology Using the WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) Questionnaire: Protocol for a Multi-Country Study

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 24; p. 13336
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wei, Eide, Arne H, Pryor, Wesley, Khasnabis, Chapal, Borg, Johan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17-12-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adaptive technology; Caregivers; Consent; Data collection; Field study; Handicapped assistance devices; Health care access; Health Services Accessibility; Households; Humans; Interviews; People with disabilities; Polls & surveys; Questionnaires; R&D; Research & development; Sample size; Self Report; Self-Help Devices; Study Protocol; Technology assessment; Technology Assessment, Biomedical; World Health Organization; access to health services; assistive technology; prevalence of use; representative population survey; barriers to access; prevalence of need
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413336

In 2018, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on improving access to assistive technology (AT), and mandated the WHO to prepare a global report on assistive technology based on the best available evidence and international experience. As limited data on access to AT at country and global levels were available, there was a need to conduct representative population surveys in order to inform the development of the global report, national AT programs, and global initiatives. The objective of this protocol is to describe a multi-country study of access to assistive technology in six self-reported areas: use, source, payer, satisfaction, unmet need, and barriers. In collaboration with WHO Regional and Country offices, Member States, and other stakeholders, the Assistive Technology Access team in WHO coordinates the study. Data are collected through household surveys using the rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) questionnaire. Findings from the surveys will be published in the global report.