How assistive devices affect activities of daily living and cognitive functions of people with brain injury: a meta-analysis

Purpose: This study aims to systematically evaluate and synthesize the literature on the effects of assistive technology devices on the activities of daily living and cognitive functions of people with brain injury.

Methods: Eight randomized controlled trials were selected from online databases pertaining to the scientific use of AT devices for people with brain injury. The Jadad scale was used to analyse the subjects qualitatively, and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 2.0 was used to test the statistical heterogeneity, effect size, sensitivity and publication bias of each of the selected studies.

Results: All selected studies were assigned a score of three on the Jadad scale, which could classify them as high-quality studies. The total number of participants in the studies was 385. The effect size of activities of daily living was 0.72, which is a medium effect size and that of cognitive function was 0.30, which is a small effect size.

Conclusion: Assistive devices are effective in improving the activities of daily living and relatively less effective in enhancing the cognitive function of people with brain injury. This meta-analysis is evidence that assistive devices could be an effective intervention method for people with brain injury.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach and to generalize the use of assistive devices. We aim to provide a basis for popularizing assistive devices as a therapeutic intervention method.