Perceptions of power-assist devices: interviews with manual wheelchair users

Abstract

Purpose

The study had three main objectives. (1) To investigate the perceived impact of power-assist devices (PADs) on manual wheelchair (MWC) user mobility. (2) To compare perceptions about different types of PADs. (3) To identify preferred features and design characteristics of PADs.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with community-dwelling MWC users aged 31 years and older, with at least 2.5 years of experience using an MWC independently (n = 16). Data were thematically analysed using an inductive approach.

Results

Two main themes related to participants’ perceptions about the effects of PAD use were identified: (1) “Expanding my world”, which illustrated the perceived benefits of using PADs (e.g., gaining a sense of autonomy and access to new environments, maintaining physical health) and (2) “Falling short”, which described challenges with PADs (e.g., safety, reliability and portability issues). Participants also identified strengths and limitations of different types of PADs that were mainly related to specific user–device and device–environment interactions as well as various functional characteristics. Moreover, participants outlined their priorities for future PAD design, including improving controllability, customizability and affordability of these devices.

Conclusions

Participants’ perceptions about PADs varied across different types of devices and in different contexts. However, PADs were generally perceived as enhancing the capabilities of MWCs. Our findings provide insight into the factors that can be considered when selecting a PAD and can inform the development of future PADs that are better equipped to overcome challenges that MWC users frequently encounter.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Power-assist devices (PADs) for manual wheelchairs (MWCs) have the potential to improve the mobility, community participation and well-being of users.

• Some of the existing PADs have safety and reliability issues that affect their performance and limit their use by MWC users.

• The three types of PADs (front-mounted attachments, rear-mounted attachments, powered wheels) offer different types of assistance that can benefit users with various capabilities.

Keywords:

• Wheelchair add-ons
• power-assist devices
• power-assisted wheelchairs

Previous presentations

Parts of this work were presented orally at the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Conference (Virtual, May 2020).

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our research participants for sharing their experiences, as well as our local spinal cord injury non-profit organization for extending their support.

Disclosure statement

All the authors confirm that they have no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

Notes

1 The pilot interviews were not included in the data analysis.

2 None of them had any prior relationship with the members of the research team.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2019-05458), the Canada Research Chair in Rehabilitation Engineering Design, and the Canadian Disability Participation Project (www.cdpp.ca). Dr. Mortenson was supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.