An Investigation of the Effectiveness of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology via a Postal Survey

Abstract

The need to involve users of assistive technologies in the evaluation of equipment has been stressed consistently and linked directly with equipment use. However, in clinical practice obtaining feedback that is informed by prolonged use within the home can be difficult to achieve owing to current working practices. This paper describes the experience of using the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology in a postal survey and discusses the potential application of this method of administration in routine practice to obtain user evaluation.

Tecnología en discapacidad: una aproximación en la terminología

“…El siguiente término encontrado en la literatura científica consultada corresponde a tecnología de asistencia -assistive technology-, referido por diferentes autores desde 1998 hasta la actualidad como Chamberlain, Evans, Neighbour & Hughes (2001); Goodacre & Turner (2005); Goodacre, McCreadie, Flanagan & Lans-ley (2008), basados en la Comisión Real de Atención a Largo Plazo (Royal Commission on Long Term Care), la cual define tecnología de asistencia como un término general para "cualquier dispositivo o sistema que permite a un individuo realizar una tarea que de otro modo no podría hacer, aumentado la facilidad y la seguridad con la cual puede ser desempeñada" y como "la forma más común de atención a largo plazo a partir de la utilización de algún tipo de equipamiento que no requiera cooperación o coordinación de otros".…”

‘I Feel So Much Safer’: Unravelling Community Equipment Outcomes

“…Heaton and Bamford (2001) reviewed the methodological issues involved in collecting information on equipment outcomes and identified three useful measures: functional status, health status and quality of life. In a postal survey of people's satisfaction with stairlifts, using a user self-evaluation tool (QUEST 2.0), Goodacre and Turner (2005) found that stairlifts had a perceived positive impact in terms of independence, quality of life, improved health and a reduction in the need for assistance.…”

“…Postal surveys can be used to collect information on health and social care outcomes (Goodacre and Turner 2005) but, when used to collect information on community equipment outcomes, they present particular methodological problems. Terms such as 'safety' or 'quality of life' in relation to equipment can mean different things to different people.…”

Good Practice in the Conduct and Reporting of Practitioner Research: Reflections from Social Work And Social Care

“…There were studies where chosen scales were adopted because their reliability and validity had been established in previous studies (Holmes 1998;Goodacre and Turner 2005;Knox and Menzies 2005;McWilliams 2005). Many studies emphasised the importance of piloting prior to data collection proper (e.g.…”

“…Many studies emphasised the importance of piloting prior to data collection proper (e.g. Jepson 1998;Melton 1998;Goodacre and Turner 2005). A high proportion of the studies were exploratory and descriptive in nature, with only a few studies attempting to develop explanatory accounts.…”