User behaviour-based approach to define mobility devices needs of disabled person in Algeria: a questionnaire study

Abstract

Purpose

This article showcases the adaptability of existing mobility devices for the Algerian disabled population. It aims to develop a behavior model of disabled Algerian persons through (1) development of a theoretical model based on literature review and (2) improvement of this model by using local collected data from our developed questionnaire.

Methods

The majority of existing mobility devices for disabled persons are adapted developed countries context. The Algerian context (people and environment) has its own specifications and needs. Researchers does not address the disabled people behavior modelling in Algeria, due to the unavailability of data and the difficulty of their collection. In order to overcome this problem and develop adapted mobility devices for this particular population, the deployment of a questionnaire to collect local data, becomes necessary. First, a behavior model is deduced from the literature review then a questionnaire is developed and deployed to complete the missing field of this model. The deployment questionnaire panel is composed of 260 persons including users, their families and staff working in disabled person's aid organization.

Results

The main result of this paper consist in a specific behavior model of Algerian disabled persons. This population are looking for reliable and smart wheelchair (97%) to be able to overcome their daily mobility difficulties due to the infrastructure and the global economic context.

Conclusion

The proposed model can generate adapted wheelchair for Algerian context. The results of the questionnaire are an important step to understand disabilities in Algeria and developing countries.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Development of a behavior model for the disabled persons displacement.

• Development and deployment of questionnaire for disabled persons in Algeria.

• Review of disabled person situation and existing wheelchair in Algeria.

• Identification of Algerian disabled persons requirement and demonstrate that are different from European one.

• Definition of recommendation set for the design of wheelchair adapted to Algerian context.

Keywords:

• Data collection
• disabled persons
• behaviour modelling
• wheelchairs
• customer centred design

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).