Background

Demonstration of cost-effectiveness of assistive technology is increasingly important to support decision making on many different levels.
Growing concern about limited resources necessitates to strengthen arguments for choice.
For different actors on the demand and supply side there is a need for information not only on productivity but also on efficiency, i.e. the utility generated for the end-users given the resources used.
Utility measurement should account for general outcome issues such as independent living, satisfaction and quality of life.

Aim

The project objectives:

• to develop a common methodology for evaluation of ATs with regards to cost for the society and benefits to the consumer / end-user
• to validate the evaluation method thus creating increased awareness of cost-effectiveness of AT and its assessment.

Methods

The work consisted of four steps:

• Workpackage 1: Critical factors related to general outcomes of Assistive Technology
  The main focus is on outcomes integrating consumer benefits and disadvantages, close to the handicap and its consequences. Utility analysis and the concept of quality of life are central issues.
  Ø. Lorentsen, K. G. Hem:
  Critical Factors And General Outcomes Of Assistive Technology.
  Order form: please mail request to
  Oivind.Lorentsen@unimed.sintef.no
• Workpackage 2: Development of evaluation tool.
  Key issues are: costs, functioning, quality of life, satisfaction, activity patterns, and access to community services.
  J. Persson, H. Brodin:
  Prototype Tool For Assistive Technology Cost And Utility Evaluation
  Order form: please mail request to
  jan.persson@cmt.liu.se
• Workpackage 3: Retrospective tool testing.
  A retrospectiven study on cost, effectiveness and utility of implementation of assistive technology was carried out over a sample group of disabled persons who adopted assistive technologies before the start of the project.
  R. Andrich, M. Ferrario:
  Cost Outcome Analysis For Assistive Technology: Case Studies
  Order form: please mail request to
  renzo.andrich@siva.it
• Workpackage 4: Validation of the evaluation method.
  The method has been tested and validated by implementation in several suitable projects.
  T. van Beekum, W. Oortwijn:
  Data Collection For Validation & Experiences From Validation
  Order form: please mail request to
  WJ.Oortwijn@PG.TNO.NL

Duration
September 1, 1994 - December 15, 1996

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