Mobility assistance preferences and device adoption among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan.

Participants with fewer socio-financial concerns were more likely to prefer walking device use.

• Est = -0.57, p = 0.01 for socio-financial concerns predicting device preference
• Study included 203 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older in Taiwan
• Participants were recruited from 18 community centers and walked independently at baseline
• Logistic regression models were applied to examine preferences for mobility assistance

Participants less skeptical toward walking aids were more likely to prefer device use.

• Est = -0.59, p = 0.02 for skepticism toward walking aids predicting device preference
• This attitudinal factor was significant in the preference model
• However, attitudinal factors were not significant predictors in the follow-up adoption model
• The study used questionnaires on mobility-related attitudes alongside gait assessments

Women showed a lower likelihood of preferring walking devices, though the association was not statistically significant.

• Est = -0.65 for female sex predicting device preference
• The result did not reach statistical significance
• This was examined within logistic regression models alongside other sociodemographic factors

Higher IADL scores were significantly associated with a reduced probability of walking device adoption at one-year follow-up.

• Est = -0.79, p = 0.01 for IADL scores predicting device adoption
• Higher IADL scores indicate better functional status, meaning lower functional ability was associated with greater device adoption
• Assessments were conducted at baseline and one-year follow-up
• This suggests actual device adoption is more closely tied to functional decline than attitudinal factors

Increased use of antihypertensive medication was significantly associated with a reduced probability of walking device adoption.

• Est = -2.28, p = 0.04 for antihypertensive medication use predicting device adoption
• The negative estimate indicates that greater antihypertensive use was associated with higher rates of device adoption
• Authors interpreted this as possibly reflecting greater health monitoring needs
• Clinicians are advised to regard antihypertensive medication use as a potential prompt for mobility screening and counseling

Attitudinal factors and repeated falls were not significant predictors of walking device adoption at one-year follow-up.

• Despite attitudinal factors being significant in the preference model, they did not predict actual device adoption over time
• Repeated falls also did not reach significance in the follow-up adoption model
• The study was guided by the person-environment-occupation model
• Findings suggest a divergence between device preference and actual device adoption