Scoping review of economic evaluations of assistive technology globally

The paper presents a scoping review of existing economic evaluations of assistive technology (AT). The study methodology utilized a PRISMA flow approach with final included studies that met an adapted PICOS framework. Types of economic evaluations employed, study type and rigor and domains of AT impact were considered and analyzed. The economic evaluations in this study included 13 CBA, 9 CMA, 18 CEAs and 10 CUA. The majority of studies (32 studies in total) mentioned or recorded that AT investment, access and/or usage had impacts on the domain of both informal and formal health care. Specifically, care costs, time, and resources were affected. Our study has found that current AT economic evaluations are limited. This study advocates for a wider use of robust alternative evaluation and appraisal methodologies that can highlight AT value and which would subsequently provide further evidence that may make governments more willing to invest in and shape AT markets.