Assistive technology (AT) is crucial for aiding activities of daily living in individuals with visual impairment; yet, without systematic follow-up device abandonment rates remain high. This scoping review synthesizes existing literature on follow-up processes in individuals with visual impairment undergoing vision rehabilitation with AT. Employing the Arksey and O'Malley framework, this review comprehensively searched seven databases, identifying 1,061 articles, of which 43 were selected for analysis, using the concepts of visual impairment, rehabilitation, and assistive technology. The publications span from 1989 to 2022. Most studies (n = 36, 83%) utilized a mixed-methods design, and 51% (n = 22) originated from the United States. Devices for near vision were the most commonly prescribed type of AT. Follow-up methods included questionnaires and interviews, with most follow-ups conducted at the client's home. Follow-up timing varied across studies, whereby 37% (n = 16) occurred after one or more years and 33% (n = 14) between one week and four months. Three categories of outcome measures emerged: generic outcomes, task-specific outcomes, and a combination of both. The review identified several gaps in the literature, including a scarcity of research concerning follow-up of AT particularly for both the type and timing of follow-up.
Keywords: assistive technology; follow-up studies; low vision; low vision devices; low vision rehabilitation; scoping review; telerehabilitation; visual impairment.
The study emphasizes the need for rehabilitation professionals and researchers to adopt standardized follow-up assessments that consider timing, frequency, and evaluation methods, enhancing AT usage, reducing device abandonment, and ensuring effective rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with visual impairments.Both generic (quality of life) and task-specific (functional use of AT) outcomes should be evaluated together, as they are interrelated and affect rehabilitation success. Incorporating emotional well-being alongside functional assessments will improve intervention strategies and better tailor them to individual client needs.Successful rehabilitation should treat AT follow-up as an integral part of evaluating all four factors that affect AT abandonment rates: the intervention (rehabilitation process), the person (their needs and preferences), the environment (context of AT use), and the device (performance and perceived benefits).Remote follow-ups, such as telerehabilitation, could be a solution for accessibility and continuity, offering a promising approach, especially for individuals in remote areas.