Affiliations: [a] Research Data Analyst, Counseling Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA | [b] Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Shondra Loggins Clay, Research Data Analyst, Counseling Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 610 E. John Street-Office 117, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. Tel.: +1 217 300 5371; Fax: +1 217 244 9645; E-mail:loggins@illinois.edu
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The benefit of assistive technology (AT) use has been well
documented by disability researchers. However, the relationship by areas of
functioning has been underexplored. OBJECTIVE: Examine the relationship among AT, demographic characteristics
(e.g. race, gender, marital status, educational attainment, and employment
status), health coverage, and difficulty levels in areas of functioning in
persons with physical conditions. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
dataset collected in the U.S. in 2013. Descriptive statistics, ordered logit
models and seemingly unrelated estimates were performed. RESULTS: Among persons with a physical condition who used AT and persons who
did not use AT, a statistical difference was observed for factors such as
race (p < 0.001), marital status (p < 0.001), employment status (p < 0.001), and health
coverage (p < 0.001). Significant difficulties for persons with physical
conditions, regardless of AT use, were observed in areas of functioning such
as lifting, walking, standing, bending, reaching overhead, and grasping with
fingers. However, a comparison of AT use vs. no AT use, revealed a
substantial positive impact, indicated by parameter estimates, for areas of
functioning related to mobility and ambulation such as walking up 10 steps
(p = 0.023), walking 3 blocks (p = 0.002), walking 1 mile (p = 0.005), and standing 20
minutes (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Differences between persons with a physical condition who used
AT and persons who did not use AT were observed based on race, marital
status, employment status, and health coverage. The benefits of AT use for
mobility and ambulation were evident in this study. Future policies and
research should continually encourage the use of AT to assist with
difficulties in various areas of functioning.
Keywords: Assistive technology, physical conditions, areas of functioning
