Project R-9389

Mobile Occupational Performance Assistance Tool : m-Assist (Research)

People with Executive Dysfunction (ED) often experience problems with instrumental activities of daily life (i-ADL) such as the preparation of meals and household chores. Given the limited number of financial resources in the healthcare sector, the increasing demand for care and the tendency to live longer at home, there is a high need for tools to carry out i-ADL independently. Therefore, PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts developed, through user-centred design, a client-centered, digital tool (app) (m-Assist) that can accompany people with ED step by step and personalized through the different steps of i-ADL. A usability and pilot study in individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) indicated that the m-Assist is a useful and user-friendly tool that enables people with ED to perform tasks independently. Furthermore, an exploratory study showed a lot of potential in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and with Intellectual Disability (ID). Care professionals and end-users are eager to use our digital tool. However, to meet this unmet need, some crucial steps need to be taken. Thus, an IOF POC project has been granted to analyze the market and work out an appropriate business model in order to market the m-Assist. Next, based on the outcome of this study, a number of functional and/or substantive features will be refined, to deliver an app ready for market introduction in the target groups ABI, ASD and ID.

01 January 2019 - 31 December 2019