Usability of the dynamic scaffolding system: an adaptive mobility device in children with special needs

Abstract

Purpose

Maintaining vertical position and moving are essential to healthy development. Children with motor difficulties may need assistive devices to stand upright or move. The Dynamic Scaffolding System (DSS) device was developed to support these skills. This study aims to explain the DSS's developmental stages, compare the device’s usage times based on diagnoses and motor impairment, and investigate the degree of satisfaction among parents of children using the device.

Materials and methods

The study included children with difficulty standing or stepping and their parents. We compared usage times of DSS depending on diagnosis (cerebral palsy (CP) or other diagnoses) and motor impairment levels. We assessed parental satisfaction by using the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0) and recorded adverse events.

Results

The ages of the participants (n:100) were between 9 and 108 months (44.94 ± 17.59), and 60% of the children had CP, and 40% had other diagnoses (genetic, metabolic, neuromuscular diseases). The duration of daily use of DSS ranged from 44.17 (±26.16) to 110 (±97.98) minutes, and the duration was similar among children at different levels of motor impairment (p = 0.262). The parents were most satisfied with the size, simplicity of use, and effectiveness, and they were least satisfied with the ease of adjustment, safety, and durability. They did not report any adverse events during the study.

Conclusions

DSS can be considered a useable assistive device option for children with CP and other diagnoses with difficulty standing or stepping and a satisfactory device for parents of such children.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The Dynamic Scaffolding System (DSS) is a useable trunk-supported adaptive walker for children with moderate to severe motor impairment.

• Parents are most satisfied with DSS's size, simplicity of use, and effectiveness.

• Children with moderate and severe motor impairment have similar duration of daily use time of DSS.

Keywords:

• Children with disabilities
• walker
• assistive technology
• rehabilitation
• satisfaction

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the children and their parents who shared their experiences using the DSS device. In addition, the authors are thankful to the Managerial Engineer Mustafa Vatansever for his contributions to the development process of the DSS device.

Disclosure statement

Ph.D. Pt T.A. and M.Sc. Pt B.D.H. declare no competing interest. Pt M.V. has a patent for DSS, and she is the owner of the DSS manufacturing company.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Turgay Altunalan

Turgay Altunalan is an Associate professor at Karadeniz Technical University, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. He received his bachelor’s and PhD degrees in early childhood intervention of children with disabilities from Istanbul University and Marmara University. His current research aims to enhance the quality of life of children with developmental disabilities and their parents.

Beyzanur Dikmen Hoşbaş

Beyzanur Dikmen Hoşbaş is a Research Assistant at Üsküdar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. She completed her undergraduate education at Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, with high honours in 2016. She is currently continuing her doctorate education at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. Her field of study is paediatric rehabilitation, and she aims to increase children’s independence and quality of life.

Melek Vatansever

Melek Vatansever is a paediatric clinician physiotherapist and founder of “Meleğin Desteği”, a private physiotherapy clinic. She graduated from Istanbul University, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Currently, she is doing her master’s degree in physical therapy at Üsküdar University. She has worked as a physiotherapist for 30 years to ensure that children with special needs become self-sufficient and participate in life. DSS is the product of 30 years of clinical experience, developed to support children with special needs in vertical positions.