Factors Associated With the Use of Standardized Power Mobility Skills Assessments Among Assistive Technology Practitioners

Abstract

This study investigated self-reported prevalence of and factors affecting clinicians’ use of standardized assessments when evaluating clients for power mobility devices (PMDs), and explored assessments clinicians typically use when carrying out PMD evaluation. An e-mail survey was sent to assistive technology professionals listed in the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America directory. Three hundred fifty-four respondents, qualified to conduct formal power mobility skills assessments, completed the online survey. Of those, 122 (34.5%) respondents reported that they were aware of the presence of standardized performance-based power mobility skills assessments, but only 28 (7.9%) used these assessments in their practice. Multivariate analysis revealed that the odds of the respondents who use the standardized assessments were 18 times higher for those who were aware of the presence of these assessments than those who were not (adjusted odds ratio [OR] OR = 17.85, P < 0.0001). The odds of using the standardized assessment for respondents who did not identify themselves as occupational or physical therapists were five times higher than those who were therapists (adjusted OR = 0.20, P < 0.0001). This survey revealed that the assistive technology practitioners who recommend PMDs mainly use non-standardized mobility skills assessments.

Keywords:

• mobility evaluation
• power wheelchairs
• practices
• provider survey

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the graduate students who helped with this survey: Mallory Lee, Mary Kathrine Corban, Lindsey McMahon, and Marion Mitchell.