Affiliations: [a] University of Western Ontario, London, Canada | [b] York University, Toronto, Canada | iRv, Institute for Rehabilitation Research, P.O. Box 192, 6430 AD Hoensbroek, The Netherlands. Http: www.irv.nl; E-mail; gj.gelderblom@irv.nl
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Jeffrey Jutai, Ph.D, C. Psych, University of Western Ontario, School of Occupational Therapy, Elborn College, 1201 Western Road, London, Ontario, Canada N6G 1H1. E-mail: jjutai@uwo.ca.
Abstract: The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scales (PIADS) is a 26-item, self-report questionnaire designed to assess the effects of an assistive device on functional independence, well-being, and quality of life. The PIADS was researched and developed to fill the need for a reliable, valid, and economical measure that is generically applicable across all major categories of assistive technology. Research has established that the instrument has good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. It is a responsive measure and sensitive to important variables such as the user's clinical condition, device stigma, and functional features of the device. It has been shown to accurately reflect the self-described experiences of people who use assistive devices. Preliminary investigations suggest that the PIADS has good validity for predicting device use and discontinuance, can be used reliably by caregivers to give proxy ratings of device impact, and produces valid results when translated into languages other than English. The PIADS has excellent potential for testing and building theories about the psychosocial factors associated with the use of assistive technology.
