Date Presented 04/05/2025
This study examined the availability of mobility products, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) priority assistive product list (APL), for individuals with mobility impairments in Jordan, by surveying rehabilitation professionals from different disciplines.
Primary Author and Speaker: Qussai M. Obiedat
Additional Authors and Speakers: Raghad Marian
PURPOSE: Assistive technologies (AT) are crucial for enhancing the lives of people with disabilities, but global access remains limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where over 2.5 billion people lack the assistive products they need (WHO, 2011, 2022, 2023). The study aimed to measure the access and availability of the recommended assistive mobility products from WHO APL (WHO, 2016) according to the perspectives of rehabilitation professionals who specialize in the field of AT.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.
METHOD: A sample of 122 Jordanian rehabilitation professionals, including occupational (OT), physical (PT), and prosthetics/orthotics (PO) professionals were surveyed. Participants were required to hold a valid Ministry of Health license and have at least 2 years of relevant experience. The survey focused on 19 AT from the 50-item priority APL, specifically related to mobility impairment.
RESULTS: The sample included 14 POs, 27 OTs, and 81 PTs, 40.2% males, and 59.8% female with a mean age of 32.45 ± 6.85 years. The most common available AT of mobility products were Canes/ Sticks 99.2%, followed by Crutches/ axillary/elbow 98.4%, Walking frame/ Walkers 97.5%, and Wheelchairs, manual assistant-controlled 94.3%. The less common available products were Fall detectors 9%, Tricycles 25.4%, and Rollators 63.9%.
CONCLUSION: The study found that traditional mobility aids like canes, crutches, and walkers were widely available, while more advanced AT like fall detectors, tricycles, and rollators were less commonly accessible. This suggests the need to improve the availability and utilization of a broader range of mobility AT to support the diverse needs of patients.
IMPACT STATEMENT: The findings highlight disparities in the availability of mobility AT. Improving access to the full spectrum of assistive solutions can empower therapists to better meet the diverse needs of patients, supporting independence and quality of life.
References
WHO. (2011). World report on disability 2011. WHO IRIS. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44575
WHO. (2016). Priority Assistive Products List: Improving access to assistive technology for everyone, everywhere. World Health Organization.
WHO. (2022). Global Report on Assistive Technology. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/354357/9789240049451-eng.pdf
WHO. (2023, May 15). Assistive technology. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology
