en Health System Health System Original Research Original Research <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;</b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp; Background: </span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">Aging is often accompanied by physical and cognitive decline, increasing the need for assistive technologies (ATs) to support daily living. Despite the clear benefits of ATs, access remains a significant barrier, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study explores access to ATs among older adults in Iran, using data from the 2022 Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) Survey.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Methods: </b>This secondary analysis was based on cross-sectional data drawn from a subsample of 2888 participants aged 60 years and older, obtained from the 2022 Iran rATA survey. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to examine self-reported functional difficulties and access to ATs, with group differences tested using chi-square and t tests or nonparametric equivalents as appropriate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Results:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal"> Overall, 1979 participants (68.58%) reported experiencing at least 1 functional difficulty. Among them, 1527 (76.23%) used at least 1 AT. The use of AT varied significantly by location, with urban residents reporting greater access than their rural counterparts. Most ATs were provided by the private sector (965, 65.47%) and primarily funded out-of-pocket (951, 64.52%). Additionally, 1230 users (83.45%) expressed satisfaction with their devices.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; Conclusion:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal"> The findings underscore the need for targeted policies to strengthen governance and reduce financial and geographic barriers to ATs for older adults. Strengthening public provision, improving affordability, and integrating ATs into health systems are key priorities for equitable aging.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"></span></span></span></span></span> Disability, Universal Health Coverage, Health Policy, Utilization, Equity 1177 1182 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2445-6&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Sahar Sarmadi saharsarmadi2000@yahoo.com 200319475328460094398 0009-0002-4732-8065 No University of Pecs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary Farkhondeh Alsadat Sajadi f.sajadi@sci.ui.ac.ir 200319475328460094399 200319475328460094399 No Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Hossein Gerivani hgerivani1990@gmail.com 200319475328460094400 200319475328460094400 No Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Marzieh Shirazikhah dr_shirazikhah2002@yahoo.com 200319475328460094401 200319475328460094401 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Azadeh Sayarifard azadeh.sayari@gmail.com 200319475328460094402 200319475328460094402 No Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Haniye Sadat Sajadi hsajjad@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460094403 200319475328460094403 Yes Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran