Mobility devices for children with physical disabilities: use, satisfaction and impact on participation

Abstract

Introduction

Children with physical disabilities commonly use mobility devices. There is a lack of studies on the use and impact of mobility devices on activities and participation. Research is needed on satisfaction with the service delivery process of mobility devices.

Purpose

To examine the use and impact of mobility devices among children with physical disabilities and the satisfaction with the properties of their mobility devices and related services.

Materials and methods

A web-based survey was sent to parents of 6 − 18 years old children with physical disabilities who used mobility devices in Iceland. The use and effectiveness of mobility devices were assessed with a questionnaire designed for this study. The satisfaction was measured with Quebec user evaluation of satisfaction with assistive technology (QUEST) 2.0.

Results

The survey was sent to 55 families and 36 replied. Most of the children used mobility devices in social activities. The number of participants who reported positive effects of devices on activities and participation, depended on environmental settings. There was no significant difference in participants’ satisfaction between types of mobility devices. Also, there was no significant difference in participants’ satisfaction with the properties of the device and the related service (for wheeled walkers p = 0.47, manual wheelchairs p = 0.08, powered wheelchairs p = 1.00).

Conclusions

The results indicate the importance of mobility devices for activities and participation and can guide healthcare workers when providing mobility devices where environmental factors across settings must be kept in mind. Stakeholders should be aware of the value of satisfaction with the devices and related services.

Implications for Rehabilitation:

• Children with physical disabilities use mobility devices across different environmental settings and need to have more than one type of equipment.

• This study confirms results from earlier research that mobility devices are important for the activities and participation of children with disabilities.

• It is important to understand how the delivery process of devices is perceived by those who receive them. High satisfaction is an indicator of high quality of service.

• Environmental factors across settings must be kept in mind in the delivery process of assistive devices.

Keywords:

• Children with disabilities
• assistive devices
• use
• impact on activities and participation
• users’ satisfaction

Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to all the children and their families who responded to the survey, to the physical therapists and parents of children with disabilities who assisted in the design of a questionnaire on the use and impact of the mobility devices on activities and participation, and to members of the Icelandic Disability Alliance, and the Icelandic Health Insurance for their valuable cooperation in the research.

Disclosure statement

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