Self-care Assistive Technologies: A systematic review of studies on efficiency and factors influencing their use

A gradual decline in functional and mental capacity, as well as a growing risk of care dependency constitute major concerns of life in old age. These are expected to become more urgent in the future, because the old-age dependency ratio in the EU is projected to nearly double until 2060 due to demographic change. On the other side, there is a strong desire to maintain the autonomy of older people as long as possible. In reaction to this, there have been strong health and social policy recommendations across Europe to develop and promote the use of assistive technologies (ATs).
Whereas systematic reviews already exist for several kinds of ATs, reviews about self-care ATs are still missing. Based on a systematic literature search in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases 203 papers were identified of which 13 were included according to our selection criteria. The methodological quality of all the reviewed studies is evaluated. We reviewed findings on objective and subjective indicators of independent living as efficiency criteria as well as evidence about facilitating and inhibiting factors in the use of these technologies. Self-care ATs turned out to be efficient, with respect to care hours, independence level, and self-reported satisfaction. The actual use of these ATs was influenced by diverse personal, contextual, and device aspects.
Lack of randomized control trial studies and the need for a further research about ATs in the diverse subdomains of self-care activities is revealed. Based on the findings of the current study, we generate recommendations for future research.