A Study on Health-Promoting Effects of Assistive Technology

This study evaluated the health-promoting effects of assistive technology(AT) from a holistic health perspective with the data from the rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in China in 2021. Through a generalized ordered logit regression, we found that AT mainly aids in the reduction of "severe impairment" in basic activities of daily living (BADL) and facilitates the attainment of "minimal impairment" in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), indicating that AT at the current stage not only serves as a tool to maintain basic survival, but also plays a crucial role in promoting overall health. Further research ascertained that the effects of assistive technology on BADL and IADL bear resemblances between two age groups but differ between urban and rural residents. Consequently, efforts must be made to enhance the supply system of AT, thereby improving social well-being for all.