The goal of this observational study is to examine the associations between assistive device approval and acquisition modality (rental or purchase), long-term care service utilization, and family caregiver burden among individuals receiving long-term care services in Taiwan. The study will use de-identified nationwide long-term care administrative data from 2021 to 2022. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What individual, disability-related, socioeconomic, residential, and caregiving factors are associated with assistive device approval, the number and type of approved devices, and rental or purchase modality? 2. Are assistive device approval and utilization patterns associated with the use of formal long-term care services and with family caregiver burden?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
161,771
National Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research Institutes
Huwei, Yunlin County, Taiwan
Assistive Device Approval Status
Whether an individual had an approved assistive device record, determined using the approval status recorded in the Assistive Technology File (QD113). Associations with disability severity, sociodemographic characteristics, residential characteristics, and caregiving conditions will be examined.
Time frame: During the 2021-2022 observation period
Formal Long-Term Care Service Utilization
Utilization of formal long-term care services, including total service utilization and category-specific utilization of care services, professional services, transportation, respite care, meal services, and other long-term care services. Associations with assistive device approval, number of devices, acquisition modality, and device category will be examined.
Time frame: During the 2021-2022 observation period
Family Caregiver Burden
Family caregiver burden will be assessed using available administrative-record indicators, including sleep disturbance, physical burden, competing caregiving demands, distress related to care-recipient behaviors, and inability to cope with caregiving stress. A cumulative caregiver burden indicator will also be derived from the number of burden items endorsed.
Time frame: During the 2021-2022 observation period
Assistive Device Acquisition Modality
Acquisition modality of approved assistive devices, categorized as rental or purchase according to the Assistive Technology File (QD113) administrative record. Factors associated with rental versus purchase will be examined.
Time frame: During the 2021-2022 observation period
Number and Category of Approved Assistive Devices
Number of approved assistive devices and device categories, such as mobility, transfer, bathing and toileting, home-care beds and bedside equipment, safety or monitoring devices, and communication or cognitive support devices.
Time frame: During the 2021-2022 observation period
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