feelings and attitudes while completing each form. The user form can be used as the basis for an interview if this is considered more appropriate.

1.2.4.6 Individually Prioritised Problem Assessment (IPPA)

IPPA (Wessels et al. 2002) is intended to assess the effectiveness of the assistive technology provision by determining the extent to which the problems and barriers encountered by the user in daily activities have been reduced. The assessment is based on asking the respondent to identify up to seven barriers in carrying out everyday activities that could possibly be countered through the use of assistive technology. This should take place early in the service delivery process to avoid the user being influenced by service providers. A checklist of daily activities can be used to help identify barriers. For each issue an IPPA form is completed and the respondent identifies the importance of the activity and the level of difficulty in carrying it out using a multiple choice score with five values from ‘not important at all’ to ‘most important’ and ‘no difficulty at all’ to ‘too much difficulty to perform the activity’. An averaged weighted ‘difficulty’ score is then obtained, giving a measure of the extent to which the respondent experiences barriers in carrying out daily activities. The process is repeated a few months after the provision of assistive technology to obtain a new ‘difficulty’ score for the previously identified activities and weights. The original version was produced in English and has been translated into Italian, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish.

1.2.4.7 Efficiency of Assistive Technology and Services (EATS)

EATS is an ongoing project with the following three main objectives:

•To develop a methodology based on a holistic approach, including end-user preferences, quality of life and social values, for a comprehensive assessment of assistive technologies and services.

•To support decision making about assistive technologies and services through the dissemination of project results.

•To compile and develop a methodology for the comprehensive assessment of assistive technologies and services, including user benefits, quality of life and costs.

1.2.5 Summary and Conclusions

Measurement of assistive technology outcomes could be used to improve the process of matching individuals to particular technologies, as well as to inform policy decision making and demands for increased public funding for assistive technology. There is therefore a need for measurement procedures that are widely applicable and relatively simple to apply. It is also important that the process does not degenerate into a bureaucratic form filling exercise.