Wheelchair satisfaction and recommended improvements of manual wheelchairs in the UK

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographics of respondents (n = 122).

	n	% Of total responses
Gender
Male	60	50.0
Female	61	49.2
Other	1	0.8
Age
18 − 24 years	13	10.7
25–34 years	25	20.5
35–44 years	27	22.1
45–54 years	29	23.8
55–65 years	28	23.0
Weight
50 kg or less	7	5.7
51–60 kg	4	3.3
61–70 kg	29	23.8
71–80 kg	24	19.7
81–90 kg	18	14.8
91 − 100 kg	19	15.6
More than 100 kg	12	9.8
Not sure	9	7.4
Diagnoses*
Spinal cord injury	57	41.3
Multiple sclerosis	6	4.3
Limb loss	6	4.3
Muscular dystrophy	1	0.7
Cerebral palsy	12	8.7
Acquired brain injury	3	2.2
Spina bifida	4	2.9
Arthritis	6	4.3
Stroke	3	2.2
Metabolic disorders	1	0.7
Other	39	28.3

* Some respondents listed more than 1 diagnosis, with a total of 138 responses, therefore the n column for diagnoses does not add up to 122. The percentage is calculated based on a total of 138 responses.

Table 2. Typical wheelchair usage of respondents and weight of current wheelchair (n = 122).

	n	% Of total respondents
Length of time used a manual wheelchair
Less than 1 year	7	5.7
1–5 years	34	27.9
6–10 years	26	21.3
11 − 20 years	29	23.8
21–30 years	10	8.2
More than 30 years	16	13.1
Hours a day typically spend in wheelchair
Less than 1 h	7	5.7
1–4 h	26	21.3
5–8 h	17	13.9
9–12 h	30	24.6
13–16 h	30	24.6
More than 16 h	12	9.8
Where typically use wheelchair
Inside house only	1	0.8
Outside house only	27	22.1
Both inside and outside house	94	77.0
How long used current wheelchair
Less than 1 year	19	15.6
1 − 5 years	77	63.1
6–10 years	20	16.4
11–20 years	5	4.1
21–30 years	1	0.8
Approximate weight of current wheelchair
Less than 7 kg	26	21.3
7–10 kg	33	27.0
11–14 kg	25	20.5
15–18 kg	10	8.2
More than 18 kg	3	2.5
Don’t know	25	20.5

Figure 1. Number of responses to questions about respondent’s current wheelchair. Questions related to the fitting, the reasons for choosing their wheelchair and users overall satisfaction with their wheelchair. Unless stated otherwise in the figure, all respondents (n = 122) answered each question. Respondents could select multiple responses for the question: reasons for choice of wheelchair.

Diagram showing the percentage of responses to questions related to respondent’s current wheelchair. Most respondents were fitted by the NHS (85.2%) and chose their own wheelchair (76.2%). Weight (56.6%) was the main reason respondents chose their wheelchair.

Table 3. Design improvements suggested by respondents.

Theme	Quotes from respondents
Usability	“A good wheelchair should make people see the person before the wheelchair, A badly designed wheelchair often makes people see the chair before the person.”
	“Don’t assume just because we use wheelchairs that every day is spent inside or in an environment that’s flat.”
	“They assume you’ll need pushing by someone else, that you’ll never need to store anything for daily use, that you’ll never try and adjust anything yourself.”
Inclusive design	“Design with women, mother’s and children in mind”
	“Ladies body shapes are a lot different to men, they measure us up in the same way they do men”
	“Not allowing for wheelchair users being pregnant/breastfeeding/caring for babies and young children.”
	“It’s both difficult and expensive to find an active chair design that can accommodate someone like myself who needs larger seat widths and higher (∼150kg) weight limits. It’s difficult to lose weight when moving is such hard work!”
User centred design	“Design and trialling by wheelchair users is a useful starting point.” “Designed by folk who don’t need or understand issues for wheelchair users.”
Assumption that one size fits all	“Assuming everyone in a chair either needs total structural support or none.” “Assuming people have same requirements, all disabilities are different and need specific things.” “Don’t consider the needs of ambulatory wheelchair users or users with a problem other than the ‘standard’ needs.”

The identified themes are listed alongside quotes linked to each theme.

Figure 2. Regions of discomfort at different body locations and severity of the discomfort. Respondents were asked to rank the severity of the discomfort at each region, 1 = little discomfort, 5 = maximum discomfort.

Bar chart showing the severity of discomfort at each body region using grayscale bars. Greatest severity at lower back and buttocks and underside of thigh.