A Thematic Review of Design Factors that Contribute to the Perceived Stigma Associated with Assistive Technology

The use of assistive technology (AT) by people with disabilities has been related to stigma, which often leads to device abandonment. Although it is widely recognized that the design of assistive devices affects their abandonment, there has been limited research on the relationship between design and stigmatization, and few review articles discuss the impact of design factors on the stigma perception of assistive devices. The rationale for this review was the belief that design factors could influence the perceptions of the stigma associated with AT. The purpose of this review is to use ATLAS.ti 9 to synthesize literature from 2018 to 2023 on design factors related to the stigma perception of assistive devices. A keyword search was followed by a filter using SCOPUS and Web of Science (WoS) inclusion criteria, resulting in 48 refereed journal papers. Following the selection and exclusion process, 19 articles were chosen to be examined. After reviewing these articles, 37 preliminary codes characterizing the seven influencing factors that affect the stigma perception of AT: Appearance, Functionality, Self-competence, Perceived ease of use, Perceived usefulness, Technology anxiety, and Experience of meaning. The design factors in coping with the perceived stigma of AT according to the influencing factors include (1) Visual analogy; (2) Innovation of use; (3) User empowerment; (4) Customization; (5) Learnability; (6) Symbolic meaning of autonomy. The findings will help to guide future research on the issue of stigma and its impact on AT, as well as the development of specific assistive products.