Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0)
A 12-item questionnaire measuring satisfaction with an assistive technology device and related services.
By Claire White
- Self-administered, or administered with support; approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- 12 items. Eight cover the device and four cover the services around it.
- Each item rated 1 (not satisfied at all) to 5 (very satisfied).
- Used to evaluate communication devices, brain-computer interfaces, and AAC systems.
What does QUEST 2.0 measure?
QUEST 2.0 asks the user to rate 12 aspects of their assistive technology experience across two subscales. Users then name the three items that matter most to them, which is what separates a satisfaction score from a priority list.
| Subscale | Items |
|---|---|
| Device (8 items) | Dimensions, weight, adjustments, safety, durability, ease of use, comfort, effectiveness |
| Services (4 items) | Service delivery, repairs and servicing, professional services, follow-up services |
What does a QUEST 2.0 score mean?
Results are reported as means from 1 to 5, one for the Device subscale, one for Services, and one overall. Higher means more satisfied. There are no published severity bands, because the score is comparative rather than diagnostic. Its value is in showing which specific features or services a user rates poorly, and whether those are the ones they said mattered most.
In brain-computer interface and AAC research the QUEST is used to evaluate acceptance and guide iterative design, including with people with locked-in syndrome evaluating communication devices. It is reference information, not a clinical result.
How QUEST 2.0 is administered
- Completed by
- The device user, alone or with support
- Time to complete
- About 10 to 15 minutes
- Scoring
- Item ratings 1 to 5; subscale and total means, not sums
- Structure
- 8 device items, 4 service items
- Response format
- Users may also name the three items most important to them
Which conditions is QUEST 2.0 used for?
Related instruments
QUEST 2.0 questions, answered
How is QUEST 2.0 scored?
Each of the 12 items is rated 1 to 5, where 1 is not satisfied at all and 5 is very satisfied. Scores are reported as means: a Device score from the 8 device items, a Services score from the 4 service items, and a total across all 12. Means are used rather than sums so that a skipped item does not distort the result.
What do the two QUEST subscales cover?
The Device subscale covers dimensions, weight, adjustments, safety, durability, ease of use, comfort, and effectiveness. The Services subscale covers service delivery, repairs and servicing, professional services, and follow-up. Factor analysis supports treating these as two distinct dimensions.
Why does QUEST ask which items matter most?
Alongside the ratings, the user picks the three items most important to them. Two people can report the same satisfaction score for very different reasons, and knowing which factors they weight changes what a service would act on.
Is QUEST 2.0 specific to any one device?
No. It was built to work across assistive technologies, which is why it is used for communication devices and brain-computer interfaces as well as mobility and seating equipment.
How was QUEST developed?
Demers, Weiss-Lambrou and Ska published the original version in 1996 with 24 items, then reduced it to 12 through item analysis in 2000. The two-dimensional structure was cross-validated in a Dutch sample in 2001.
Evidence, psychometrics and provenance
Developed by Louise Demers, Rhoda Weiss-Lambrou and Bernadette Ska in Quebec. The original 1996 version had 24 items; item analysis in 2000 reduced it to the 12 of QUEST 2.0, and the two-dimensional structure was cross-validated in a Dutch sample in 2001.
- Structure
- Two dimensions, Device and Services, confirmed by factor analysis
- Development
- Reduced from 24 items to 12 by item analysis
- Cross-cultural validation
- Structure replicated in a Dutch sample
References
- 1.Demers L, Weiss-Lambrou R, Ska B. Development of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology (QUEST). Assist Technol. 1996;8(1):3-13.
- 2.Demers L, Weiss-Lambrou R, Ska B. Item analysis of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST). Assist Technol. 2000;12(2):96-105.
- 3.Demers L, Wessels R, Weiss-Lambrou R, Ska B, De Witte LP. Key dimensions of client satisfaction with assistive technology: a cross-validation of a Canadian measure in The Netherlands. J Rehabil Med. 2001;33(4):187-191.
This assessment uses a validated instrument and is reference information, not a diagnosis.