Grant: CIHR Fellowship - Priority Announcement: Patient Oriented Research - General

Assistive technologies such as communication aids, mobility aids, and hearing aids promote autonomy, participation, and well-being for people with disabilities (PwD). The JACO robotic arm is an assistive technology that mounts on a motorized wheelchair and compensates for the loss of arm movements for individuals with limited upper limb mobility through a control joystick. Preliminary studies showed that such robotic arm may enhance social participation (SP) by enabling more independent engagement in daily activities. However, there is a significant financial barrier to accessing the JACO arm. It is also essential to thoroughly document the effects of using the JACO arm on SP and quality of life (QoL), both before and after its use. This information is crucial for clinicians, users, and caregivers to make informed decisions regarding the acquiring and use of the JACO arm. The primary objective of this project is to evaluate changes in social participation and quality of life with and without the JACO arm. To achieve this, people with upper limb disability will complete two questionnaires regarding their SP and QoL, both before receiving the JACO arm, 2 months and six months afterward. A control group of voluntary PwD who do not use the JACO arm will complete the same questionnaires. The second objective aims assess the cost effectiveness of the JACO arm use. Over a six-month period, participants from both groups will complete a short online questionnaire each month to identify the direct and indirect costs associated with the effectiveness of the JACO arm on their SP and QoL. Finally, interviews will be conducted with JACO arm users and their caregivers to explore their experiences in-depth. In summary, this project will document, for the first time, the added value of the JACO arm and the cost-effectiveness ratio, providing key insights for end users, while assessing its impact on enhancing services and promoting SP and QoL for PwD.