Baudin K, Frennert S, Pettersson C, Larsson Ranada Å
Unit of Occupational Therapy, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Assist Technol. 2024 Oct 7:1-8. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2024.2411578.
The entitlement to access assistive technology (AT) is fundamental for all individuals. However, challenges encountered during societal crises can significantly impact opportunities for participation and engagement among AT users. Understanding the implications of crises and disasters on AT provision along with their repercussions for end users is crucial. This research endeavors to investigate the experiences of managers overseeing AT provision during crises, using the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study. An open-ended questionnaire was distributed to health care managers ( = 18) within AT organizations in Sweden. The responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, and four categories derived: . The findings indicate that AT organizations have demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of reduced consultations and growing care burden. Despite these challenges, managers have gained valuable insights into developing AT provision more efficiently and sustainably, particularly in digitization. The lessons learned will be critical in ensuring AT provision remains responsive to the needs of patients and society in the future.
获得辅助技术（AT）的权利对所有人来说都是至关重要的。然而，社会危机期间遇到的挑战会对AT用户的参与机会产生重大影响。了解危机和灾难对AT供应的影响及其对终端用户的影响至关重要。本研究旨在以新冠疫情的第一波为例，调查危机期间负责监督AT供应的管理人员的经历。向瑞典AT组织内的医疗保健管理人员（n = 18）发放了一份开放式问卷。使用定性内容分析法对回复进行了分析，并得出了四类结果。研究结果表明，面对咨询量减少和护理负担加重，AT组织展现出了显著的恢复力和适应能力。尽管面临这些挑战，管理人员在更高效、可持续地发展AT供应方面，尤其是在数字化方面，获得了宝贵的见解。吸取的经验教训对于确保未来AT供应仍能满足患者和社会的需求至关重要。
