Assistive Technology Can Reduce Disparities, Improve Safety Among Patients with Disabilities

If designed and applied effectively, assistive technologies have shown potential in reducing health disparities while improving medication safety and use among patients with disabilities, according to a study in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.¹ However, researchers believe there is a significant gap between assistive technology innovation and their clinical effectiveness, highlighting the need for more robust research.

“Pharmacists should take steps to identify and welcome patients with [disabilities] so that pharmaceutical care can be adapted to their impairment,” wrote authors of a study in Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy.² “One possible adaptation to ensure access to medication information is to use the assistive products that these patients use in their activities of daily living.”

The WHO defines assistive technology as an umbrella term for any product, device, or system designed to maintain or improve an individual’s functioning and independence. For more than 2.5 billion people globally who require at least one assistive product, these tools, ranging from low-tech communication boards to high-tech special-purpose computers, are essential for daily activities like education, employment, and self-care.^1,3,4

READ MORE: Technical, Digital Literacy Barriers Hinder Success of E-Prescriptions

In the realm of pharmacotherapy, this includes everything from talking devices and automated dispensers to adapted packaging with tactile markings and pictogram-based instructions. Improving access to these technologies is considered crucial for achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that no patient is left behind.^1,3

A Lack of Evidence in Assistive Technology’s Implementation

Despite the potential for assistive technology to bridge accessibility gaps, current evidence supporting its clinical impact remains fragmented and methodologically limited. A systematic scoping review identified 80 relevant studies but found that only about 28% actually evaluated clinical or performance outcomes.^1,5

Most existing research consists of small-scale observational studies focused on user satisfaction rather than robust clinical measures like the reduction of medication errors or hospitalizations. Furthermore, a pronounced research imbalance exists between disability profiles, with more than half of the studies focusing on visual impairment while complex challenges associated with hearing and intellectual disabilities remain significantly under-explored.¹

Pharmacy’s Role in Facilitating Assistive Technology

Community pharmacies are increasingly recognized as essential hubs for implementing and improving these solutions through accessible design and personalized services. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, many pharmacies have adopted physical features like automatic doors, lowered counters, and high-contrast signage to assist those with mobility or visual impairments.⁶

Beyond physical layout, pharmacists support patients through medication synchronization, home delivery, and custom labeling options like large-print or Braille instructions. To overcome communication barriers for patients with hearing or speech impairments, some facilities now utilize video relay interpreting services or clear masks to facilitate lip-reading.

However, the transfer of assistive products into routine pharmacy practice faces several structural and economic hurdles. Global data reveals a stark inequity in access, where as few as 3% of people in some low-income countries have the assistive products they need compared with 90% in high-income regions.^1-3

Even when technologies are available, pharmacists often identify barriers such as the “technology divide” among older patients and the incompatibility of certain pharmaceutical forms, like effervescent or refrigerated medications, with standard electronic dispensers. Researchers also point to a critical lack of cost-effectiveness analyses, which leaves policymakers without the evidence necessary to establish sustainable reimbursement mechanisms or funding for these innovations.^1,2

Looking Ahead at the Advancement of Assistive Technology

To move forward, the field requires a paradigm shift toward more rigorous research methods, including randomized controlled trials and standardized outcome measures. There is also a growing interest in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into assistive tools, which could offer adaptive interfaces and conversational agents to support adherence.¹

Although technological innovation continues at a rapid pace, the current consensus is that enthusiasm for new tools must be matched by a commitment to clinical validation. Until then, pharmacists and other health care providers are encouraged to prioritize shared decision-making, collaborating with patients and multidisciplinary teams to select the assistive tools that best align with an individual’s unique functional abilities and preferences.^1,4

“Assistive technologies have the potential to reduce health disparities and improve medication safety for people with disabilities. However, this review shows that the enthusiasm for technological innovation has surpassed the generation of substantial evidence regarding its effectiveness, safety, and cost-efficiency,” concluded the authors of the current study.¹ “In order to translate this potential into real patient benefits, research must shift toward greater methodological rigor, clinically relevant outcomes, and a strong commitment to equity in the design and evaluation of assistive solutions for all disability groups.”

READ MORE: Technology and Data Resource Center

REFERENCES

1. Ramos-Silva A, Cruz BD, Fernandez-Llimos F, et al. Assistive technologies for medication self-management in people with disabilities: a systematic scoping review and evidence map. Res Soc Adm Pharm. May 1, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2026.05.006.

2. Merenda T, Cannella S, Denis J, et al. Assistive products in pharmacy practice to optimize medications use for visually impaired patients: focus groups to explore community pharmacists' opinions and expectations. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2024 Jun 15;15:100467. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100467.

3. Assistive technology. WHO. January 2, 2024. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology

4. What is AT? Assistive Technology Industry Association. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.atia.org/home/at-resources/what-is-at/

5. Yajid NHM, Tahir NAM. Assistive technologies and interventions to enhance medication management among individuals with sensory impairments: a scoping review. Disabil Rehabil: Assist Technol. February 12, 2026:1-23. doi:10.1080/17483107.2026.2625408

6. How pharmacies support patients with disabilities. Coal Grove Pharmacy. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.coalgrovepharmacy.com/blogs/how-pharmacies-support-patients-with-disabilities