Exploring the barriers to using assistive technology for individuals with chronic conditions: a meta-synthesis review

Abstract

Purpose: Assistive technology can provide a key tool to enabling independence, greater inclusion and participation in society for individuals with chronic conditions. This potential is currently not always realised due to barriers to accessing and using assistive technology. This review aims to identify all the common barriers to acquiring and using assistive technology for users with chronic conditions through a systematic meta-synthesis. This differs from other systematic reviews by applying a transdiagnostic approach to identify if barriers are common across chronic conditions. Materials and methods:A systematic literature search of five scientific databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Medline) was conducted to identify relevant qualitative studies. The search was conducted in November 2019. For the identified articles, thematic content analysis was conducted and the methodological quality was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for qualitative research.Results: Forty papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Fifty-one descriptive themes grouped into six overarching analytical themes were identified from the studies. The analytical themes identified were: the design and function of the assistive technology, service provision, information and awareness, psychological barriers, support network and societal barriers. Conclusions:The barriers are interconnected and common across different health conditions. More involvement in personalised care for developing strategies, adaptation of home technologies and provision of assistive technology could overcome the service provision and design barriers to assistive technology. Accessible information and providing greater awareness will be important to overcoming information, psychological and societal barriers to assistive technology.

Potential assistive technology preferences of informal caregivers of people with disability

“…Therefore, it is difficult to adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach to developing solutions for informal caregivers and the people they care for. 37 , 38 It is pertinent to continue to involve caregivers in conversations about their technology needs and how they would like to address them in a human-centered design context.…”

Editorial: Improving Wellbeing in Patients With Chronic Conditions: Theory, Evidence, and Opportunities

“…However, a meta-synthesis from our own group show that complex barriers exist to acquiring and using appropriate assistive technology for people with chronic conditions. Barriers relate to the devices themselves, the individual context, healthcare context and wider societal barriers such as stigma (Howard et al, 2020 ). Finding interventions to overcome such barriers, for example greater involvement of patients in the design and provision of assistive technology, will help provide more usable assistive technology solutions that assist in empowering the individual in better managing their own health, improving independence, enabling great social connections, and as such promoting wellbeing.…”

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