Assistive technologies for people with advanced disease and in palliative care: a scoping review

Population ageing, multi-morbidity and associated disability is shifting global demand for health and care services. Innovative solutions are required to meet the evolving needs of people with advanced disease, support independent functioning and quality of life. This scoping review aimed to map and examine evidence on the role of assistive technology in adults with advanced disease and those receiving palliative care. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and Cinahl, was conducted from inception to 31^st July 2024 for studies investigating use of assistive technologies in people with advanced disease or receiving palliative care. Titles and abstracts were independently screened before full texts retrieved for eligibility review, data extraction, synthesis and descriptive analysis. 23/811 screened papers met eligibility criteria. Participants included ALS/MND (n13/23); palliative care (n4/23); cancer (n2/23); dementia (n2/23); Parkinson's (n1/23) and frailty (n1/23). Studies evaluated assistive technologies supporting ten functional domains; most frequently to support communication and information management (n13/23), least frequently orthoses and prosthesis, and domestic activities and participation in domestic life (n1/23). Outcomes of assistive technology use related to functioning, quality of life, dignity in end-of-life care and health service use. Implications for individual users, device design and delivery are discussed. This review highlights potential benefits of assistive technologies and gaps in research on their use for adults with advanced disease or receiving palliative care. Empirical evidence is limited and focuses on communication enhancing high-tech devices. Future research should explore assistive technology's impact over time on health outcomes, alongside strategies to integrate provision in care.