Design and focus group evaluation of a bed-integrated weight measurement system for wheelchair users

ABSTRACT

Regular weight monitoring is known to help with weight management, which is an important part of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. Unfortunately, weight monitoring is challenging for wheelchair users because the few scales that are available are expensive and very large. Consequently, wheelchair users typically learn their weight at infrequent visits to their healthcare providers, which likely contributes to higher prevalence of obesity-related health risks among this population. In this article, we describe the design and development of the Embedded Scale, or E-Scale, which is a bed-integrated bodyweight measuring system that allows a user to measure and track their weight. The E-Scale team followed a standard product development approach to build the E-Scale prototype. Bench testing results indicate that the performance of the prototype is on par with commercially available wheelchair scales (capacity = 1,200 lbs, accuracy = 1.73 lbs, and precision = ± 0.35 lbs over one-fourth rated capacity). Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved focus groups with 20 Veterans who use wheelchairs for mobility were conducted to gather feedback about the design, which was very positive. Development and testing results suggests the E-Scale technology is feasible and may provide a valuable tool to help wheelchair users manage their weight.

KEYWORDS:

• accessible design
• Embedded Scale
• obesity
• self-weighing
• weight monitoring
• weight scale

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Garrett Grindle, Joshua Brown, Michael Lain, Annmarie Kelleher, Stacy Eckstein, and Emily Teodorski at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories for their valuable help on this work. The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Funding

This project was funded under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant 90DP0056-01-00). Additionally, the project was supported by the 1st Gear Enterprise Team Creation Program by the University of Pittsburgh’s Innovation Institute and Technology Commercialization grant by Innovation Works. This material is also the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The contents of this article do not represent the views of NIDILRR, Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or Department of Veterans Affairs, and one should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Institutional review

The focus group study at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) was approved by the Veterans Administration Institutional Review Board. Consent of each subject was obtained prior to the study.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant 90DP0056-01-00). Additionally, the project was supported by the 1st Gear Enterprise Team Creation Program by the University of Pittsburgh’s Innovation Institute and Technology Commercialization grant by Innovation Works. This material is also the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The contents of this article do not represent the views of NIDILRR, Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or Department of Veterans Affairs, and one should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Notes on contributors

Anand Mhatre

Study concept and design: A. Mhatre, J. Pearlman, and R. A. Cooper. Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data: A. Mhatre and J. Duvall. Critical revision of manuscript for important intellectual content: J. Pearlman, R.A. Cooper, D. Ding, and J. Duvall. Study supervision: J. Pearlman.

Jonathan Duvall

Study concept and design: A. Mhatre, J. Pearlman, and R. A. Cooper. Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data: A. Mhatre and J. Duvall. Critical revision of manuscript for important intellectual content: J. Pearlman, R.A. Cooper, D. Ding, and J. Duvall. Study supervision: J. Pearlman.

Dan Ding

Study concept and design: A. Mhatre, J. Pearlman, and R. A. Cooper. Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data: A. Mhatre and J. Duvall. Critical revision of manuscript for important intellectual content: J. Pearlman, R.A. Cooper, D. Ding, and J. Duvall. Study supervision: J. Pearlman.

Rory Cooper

Study concept and design: A. Mhatre, J. Pearlman, and R. A. Cooper. Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data: A. Mhatre and J. Duvall. Critical revision of manuscript for important intellectual content: J. Pearlman, R.A. Cooper, D. Ding, and J. Duvall. Study supervision: J. Pearlman.

Jon Pearlman

Study concept and design: A. Mhatre, J. Pearlman, and R. A. Cooper. Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data: A. Mhatre and J. Duvall. Critical revision of manuscript for important intellectual content: J. Pearlman, R.A. Cooper, D. Ding, and J. Duvall. Study supervision: J. Pearlman.