Table 1 below summarizes the questions asked in the survey and the responses obtained. The response totals provide only a gross indication of the number of patients being served by the institutions. It is striking, however, that almost every institution reported that none of their patients make use of powered feeding devices. Each institution was also asked to provide an open-ended comment on their use of powered feeding devices. The comments generally indicated that the available feeders are too expensive, too difficult to use, unreliable, inconvenient, difficult to transport, unattractive, and time-consuming to set up.
Several institutions make no use of powered feeding device.
The experimental design was guided primarily by the desire to provide subjects with the opportunity to use the feeding devices in the environment in which they normally eat their meals. Information was obtained from the subjects through two mechanisms, a log sheet, which recorded the use of the devices in the home or institutional setting, and questionnaires, which were administered to both the subjects and the subjects' assistants. The questionnaires were administered after the use of each device and recorded the subjects' and assistants' ratings of various criteria of the machines. Presentation of the devices to the subjects was balanced to reduce bias. Subjects Subjects for this study were identified through the Institute's Department of Occupational Therapy and through a mailed solicitation to local schools and rehabilitation facilities.