New Findings on Technology Described by Investigators at University of Pittsburgh (Investigation of Factors From Assistive Technology Professionals That Impact Timeliness of Wheelchair Service Delivery: a Cross-sectional Study): Technology

2023 DEC 12 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A new study on Technology is now available. According to news reporting from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with variability in time from assessment to device delivery (cycle time). Our hypothesis was that device type and type of insurance would be the strongest predictor of cycle time.”

Financial support for this research came from United States Department of Health & Human Services.

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Pittsburgh, “Data were extracted from the Functional Mobility Assessment/Uniform Dataset (FMA/UDS) Registry that at the time of analysis contained a sample of 2588 people with disabilities (PWD) who were provided with a wheeled mobility device (WMD) between 21 March 2016 and 29 June 2021. To examine the effect of individual factors on the variability in cycle time, a robust linear regression analysis was conducted. The average national cycle time was 101.5 (SD = 59.9) d. Geographic area (Capital Metro [p < .001], Great Lakes [p = .016], and Northeast area [p < .001]), higher years since onset of disability (p < .001) and customizable devices (p = .021) were associated with higher cycle time. Non-customizable devices (p = .005), scooters (p < .001), Group 2 power wheelchairs (PWCs; p< .001), and funding source (Medicaid managed care (p < .001) and ‘other’ (p = .028)) were associated with lower cycle time.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Longer cycle time is likely related to variations in clinical practice, insurance coverage criteria and the level of customizability of the device needed for a particular diagnosis, especially long-term disabilities.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Investigation of Factors From Assistive Technology Professionals That Impact Timeliness of Wheelchair Service Delivery: a Cross-sectional Study. Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology, 2023;18(8):1522-1526. Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology can be contacted at: Taylor & Francis Inc, 530 Walnut Street, Ste 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Mark R. Schmeler, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Dept. of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, 6425 Penn Ave, Suite 401, Off 16, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, United States. Additional authors for this research include Maxwell Cuppett, Richard M. Schein, Gede Pramana and Brad E. Dicianno.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2022.2048099. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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