The role of assistive technology in palliative care: A scoping review

Rationale Assistive technologies play a vital role in palliative care by addressing physical, emotional, and social needs. Despite their growing relevance, a comprehensive understanding of their purposes, the methodologies used to study them, and the populations they serve remain limited.Objective This scoping review aimed to explore the purposes of assistive technologies in palliative care, examine the methodologies employed in their study, and identify the target populations they serve.Methods A systematic search was conducted in five databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore. The search terms focused on "assistive technology" and "palliative care," and were restricted to original research published between 2000 and 2024. Studies were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were extracted from the selected publications to address the research questions.Analysis The review identified 12 relevant publications. Assistive technologies were found to address diverse purposes, including symptom management, monitoring, communication, and psychosocial support. Methodological approaches varied widely, encompassing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods designs. Target populations included older adults, individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, cancer patients, and young individuals with rare conditions, with applications across diverse care settings and palliative care stages. However, the limited number of publications suggests potential knowledge gaps, highlighting the need for broader search strategies and increased recognition of assistive technologies in palliative care research.