IDENTIFYING AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE SOURCES FOR MOBILITY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AMONG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA

Alqahtani, Saleh (2023) IDENTIFYING AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE SOURCES FOR MOBILITY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AMONG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Lack of knowledge and awareness about mobility assistive technology (MAT) devices and services available to MAT users, family members, and caregivers remains a global challenge and a barrier to accessing appropriate MAT devices. Thus, understanding the gaps in knowledge and awareness about available technologies, emerging technologies, clinical skills, delivery provision process, and laws and standards is a critical step toward accessing appropriate MAT devices and informing future development and dissemination strategies. This dissertation extends the available information on this topic. It aims to understand the demand for MAT at a global level, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Thus, the English survey used in a previous U.S. pilot study was translated into Arabic and culturally adapted for MAT users within Saudi Arabia to address the gaps in knowledge, training, and emerging technology about MAT and to identify consumer preferences regarding information sources. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted. One cross-sectional study followed Beaton’s guidelines for translating and performing cultural adaptation by assessing the adapted version and its face validity to ensure that its contents are equivalent to the original version, and then addressing the ensuring issues relating to wording, clarity, and relevance to aid cultural understanding. After the modification and preparation of the final version of the Arabic survey, a second cross-sectional study was conducted on a large group of Saudi MAT users to empirically assess the level of knowledge on skill training, emerging technology perceptions, and preferred information sources among MAT users in Saudi Arabia. The survey findings revealed some gaps in knowledge among Saudi MAT consumers with respect to clinical skills and emerging technologies, suggesting the need for further research in this area. The survey results also indicated that healthcare providers, the internet, social media, and family and friends using MAT (i.e., via word-of-mouth) were the resources that the participants most frequently used for finding information about MAT. The results of this dissertation build on the existing literature, and they can help inform researchers, clinicians, and other stakeholders to increase their knowledge and awareness about MAT, thereby enhancing dissemination and knowledge translation efforts in Saudi Arabia and probably other countries.

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Details

Item Type:	University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Alqahtani, Saleh saa162@pitt.edu saa162
ETD Committee:	Title Member Email Address Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Cooper, Rory RCOOPER@pitt.edu RCOOPER Committee Member Dicianno, Brad dicianno@pitt.edu dicianno Committee Member Goldberg, Mary mgoldberg@pitt.edu mgoldberg Committee Member Jongbae, Kim jongbae@yonsei.ac.kr
Date:	30 January 2023
Date Type:	Publication
Defense Date:	25 August 2022
Approval Date:	30 January 2023
Submission Date:	28 September 2022
Access Restriction:	No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages:	207
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Degree:	PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type:	Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed:	Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:	assistive technology, person with disability, information dissemination, knowledge translation, Saudi Arabia, self-help device, wheelchair.
Date Deposited:	30 Jan 2023 17:33
Last Modified:	30 Jan 2023 17:33
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/43766

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• IDENTIFYING AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE SOURCES FOR MOBILITY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AMONG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA. (deposited 30 Jan 2023 17:33) [Currently Displayed]

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