Powerful or Powerless? Children’s, Parents’, and Occupational Therapists’ Perceptions of Powered Mobility

Abstract

Aim: In Québec, Canada, the prevalence of children using powered mobility (PM) is not reflective of evidence supporting its use and for achieving developmental milestones. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of four key stakeholder groups in a metropolitan area regarding daily use, barriers, facilitators, and clinical practice associated with use of PM. Methods: Using convenience sampling, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with children (n = 6), parents (n = 2), rehabilitation center occupational therapists (OTs; n = 4), and special needs school-based OTs (n = 6). Drawings were used as a supplemental data collection strategy with children. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim to conduct thematic analysis. Results: Three overarching themes were identified: (1) “A sense of liberty, except…”, highlighting environmental obstacles reducing social participation; (2) “A necessity, for better or for worse,” covering benefits and drawbacks of PM; and (3) “First choice versus last resort,” raising clinical differences related to provision, assessment, and training. Conclusions: Stakeholders’ perceptions illustrated benefits of PM, yet use is contingent on the physical, institutional, and societal environments, leading stakeholders to feel both powerful and powerless as users, parents, or clinicians.

Keywords:

• Occupational therapy
• pediatric rehabilitation
• powered mobility
• powered wheelchairs
• qualitative studies

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all participants for generously sharing their experiences.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Evelina Pituch

Evelina Pituch, is an occupational therapist, MSc, a PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal and at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montréal (CRIR), Montréal, QC, Canada.

Paula W. Rushton

Paula W. Rushton, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy Program at Université de Montréal and a researcher at the CHU Ste-Justine Research Center. Her research is focused on measurement, intervention, knowledge translation and education related to improving the wheeled mobility of both adults and children.

Myriame Ngo

Myriame Ngo, is an occupational therapist, MSc, and Pharm.D student in Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, QC, Canada.

Jessica Heales

Jessica Heales, is an occupational therapist, MSc, at Urgent Response Team, Intermediate Care Team Southwark, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Alexandra Poulin Arguin

Alexandra Poulin Arguin, is an occupational therapist, MSc, at CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Continuum de réadaptation en milieux de vie substituts, Montréal, QC, Canada. At the time of this study, Evelina Pituch, Myriame Ngo, Jessica Heales and Alexandra Poulin Arguin were Master students in the Occupational Therapy Program at Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Paula W. Rushton.