Use of medical technologies in rehabilitation medicine settings in Israel: results of the TECHNO-R 2005 survey.
BACKGROUND
With the development of computer technology and the high-tech electronic industry over the past 30 years, the technological age is flourishing. New technologies are continually being introduced, and questions regarding the economic viability of these technologies need to be addressed.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the medical technologies currently in use in different rehabilitation medicine settings in Israel.


METHODS
The TECHNO-R 2005 survey was conducted in two phases. Beginning in 2004, the first survey used a questionnaire with open questions relating to the different technologies in clinical use, including questions on their purpose, who operates the device (technician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, physician, etc.), and a description of the treated patients. This questionnaire was sent to 31 rehabilitation medicine facilities in Israel. Due to difficulties in comprehension of the term "technology," a second revised standardized questionnaire with closed-ended questions specifying diverse technologies was introduced in 2005. The responder had to mark from a list of 15 different medical technologies which were in use in his or her facility, as well as their purpose, who operates the device, and a description of the treated patients.


RESULTS
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, the TILT bed, continuous passive movement, and therapeutic ultrasound were the most widely used technologies in rehabilitation medicine facilities. Monitoring of the sitting position in the wheelchair, at the bottom of the list, was found to be the least used technology (with 15.4% occurrence). Most of the technologies are used primarily for treatment purposes and to a lesser degree for diagnosis and research.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study poses a fundamental semantic and conceptual question regarding what kind of technologies are or should be part of the standard equipment of any accredited rehabilitation medicine facility for assessment, treatment and/or research. For this purpose, additional data are needed.
Ring
Haim
H
Department of Neurological Rehabilitation C, Loewenstein Hospital--Rehabilitation Center, Raanana, Israel. haimr@clalit.org.il
Keren
Ofer
O
Zwecker
Manuel
M
Dynia
Aida
A
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018475:Head-Down Tilt / Q000502:physiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014584:User-Computer Interface