An exploration of the experiences of Brazilian hemiplegic manual wheelchair users

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this research was to explore the experiences of 11 hemiplegic users with their manual wheelchairs.

Method: The phenomenological approach explored the subjective experiences of Brazilian hemiplegic manual wheelchair users in order to identify and describe the factors that affected their relationship with their wheelchair. Using in depth semistructured interviews. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The health records from the physiotherapy service of the Health Department of Itajaí were reviewed to identify hemiplegic wheelchair users.

Results: The results identified 4 key themes: heteronomy, inadequate/inappropriateness of wheelchair design, poor state of the pavements and roads prohibiting wheelchair use and lack of suitable wheelchair provision.

Conclusion: The findings confirm that current manual wheelchair provision, both new and secondhand, for this group of users is inadequate and they highlighted the issues and problems arising from the current provision. A novel finding was the identification of heteronomy that resulted from the provision of unsuitable equipment.

Implication for rehabilitation

• Adding into physiotherapy and occupational therapy education, the importance of matching technology to the user in their environment.

• The importance of involving the user in decisions made about wheelchair provision.

• Sharing findings with wheelchair manufacturers to improve manual wheelchair design for hemiplegic users.

Keywords:

• Hemiplegia
• manual wheelchairs
• heteronomy

Acknowledgements

The authors thank hemiplegic users of the manual wheelchairs.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the British Academy through a Newton Mobility Award 2015 number NG 150064 and FAPESC/n 2015 TR400.