Mobility-related participation and user satisfaction: Construct validity in the context of powered wheelchair use

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate the constructs of mobility-related participation and user satisfaction, two important outcome dimensions within praxis and research on mobility device interventions.

Method. To fulfill this aim, validity and reliability of a 12-item scale on mobility-related participation and a 10-item scale on user satisfaction were examined in the context of older people's powered wheelchair use (n = 111). Rasch analysis and correlation analysis were applied.

Results. Construct validity of both scales was confirmed. The reliability of the user satisfaction scale was good, while the mobility-related participation scale was not optimal in discriminating between persons with a high degree of mobility-related participation. It was demonstrated that mobility-related participation and user satisfaction are separate, not related constructs.

Conclusions. It can be concluded that the investigated mobility-related participation and user satisfaction constructs appear to be valid. Since the two constructs are not related and both yield important information, both dimensions should be evaluated in outcomes research and praxis targeting powered wheelchair interventions. Reliability problems of the mobility-related participation scale indicate the complexity of this construct. The results have been instrumental in the development of a new scale for measuring mobility-related participation ‘The NOMO 1.0’.

Keywords:

• Psychometrics
• mobility devices
• old age
• rehabilitation
• QUEST

Acknowledgements

The authors thank users and the interviewers who took part in the study. The authors are grateful to The Swedish Council for working Life and Social Research for financial support of the scientific publication process.