Assistive technologies and strategies to support the medication management of individuals with hearing and/or visual impairment: A scoping review

Lesley Cooper; Peter Fuzesi; Sabrina Anne Jacob; Sureshkumar Kamalakannan; Marilyn Lennon; Leah Macaden; Annetta Smith; Tomas Welsh; Kirsten Broadfoot; Margaret C Watson

doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101500

Assistive technologies and strategies to support the medication management of individuals with hearing and/or visual impairment: A scoping review

Disabil Health J. 2023 Oct;16(4):101500. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101500. Epub 2023 Jun 29.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
² Department of Social Work, Education and Community Well-being, Northumbria University, Sutherland Building, 2 Ellison Pl, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK. Electronic address: Suresh.Kumar@lshtm.ac.uk.
³ Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK. Electronic address: marilyn.lennon@strath.ac.uk.
⁴ Nursing Studies, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK. Electronic address: leah.macaden@ed.ac.uk.
⁵ University of the Highlands and Islands, 12b Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5SQ, UK. Electronic address: annetta.smith.emerita@uhi.ac.uk.
⁶ RICE, The Research Institute for the Care of Older People, 8, The RICE Centre Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, UK. Electronic address: tw695@bath.ac.uk.
⁷ Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK. Electronic address: kiwidervish@gmail.com.
⁸ Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK. Electronic address: margaret.watson@strath.ac.uk.

PMID: 37481354
DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2023.101500

Abstract

Background: Individuals with sensory impairment (visual and/or hearing) experience health inequalities and increased the risk of medication-related iatrogenic disease compared with the general population. Assistive technologies and tailored strategies could support medication management for individuals with sensory impairment to reduce harm and increase the likelihood of therapeutic benefit.

Objective: This scoping review identified assistive technologies and strategies to support medication management of/for people with hearing and/or visual impairment.

Methods: Standard scoping review methodology was used to identify studies that evaluated technologies or strategies designed to support people with sensory impairment with independent medicine management. Electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ACM, Cochrane) from inception to 18/07/22. Independent duplicate screening, selection, and data extraction were undertaken.

Results: Of 1231 publications identified, 18 were included, reporting 17 studies, 16 of which evaluated technologies to assist people with visual impairment and one study to assist people with hearing impairment. The range of technologies and devices included: applications for android phones (n = 6); eyedrop-assistance devices (n = 5); audio-prescription labelling/reading systems (n = 2); touch-to-speech devices (n = 2); continuous glucose monitoring system (n = 1); magnifying technology (n = 1). Ten studies tested early-stage prototypes. Most participants could operate the technologies effectively and deemed them to be useful.

Conclusions: Despite the increasing number of medicine-related assistive technologies, there has been limited empirical evaluation of their effectiveness for supporting individuals with sensory impairment. Prototypes appear to be useful for people with visual or hearing impairment, however wider 'real-life' testing is needed to confirm the benefits of these technologies.

Keywords: Assistive technologies; Hearing impairment; Medication therapy management; Scoping review; Visual impairment.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Blood Glucose
Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
Disabled Persons*
Hearing
Humans
Medication Therapy Management
Self-Help Devices*
Vision, Low*

Substances

Blood Glucose