Powered Wheelchair Impact – User-Centered Observational Study

There is a growing prevalence of disability worldwide, which indicates an increasing number of persons who might benefit from assistive technologies. The purpose of this observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study is to assess the psychosocial and participation impact of powered wheelchairs (PW). From May to October 2017, 30 powered wheelchair users were interviewed using the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST) scale, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) and the Activities and Participation Profile Related to Mobility (PAPM) scale, in addition to some demographic, clinical and powered wheelchair related questions. Descriptive and correlational statistics were performed to analyze the data. The participants were satisfied with both AT and related services, with the lowest QUEST scores belonging to those who had been using their wheelchairs for a longer period of time. PAPM scores revealed significant restrictions in participation mostly among users with longer wheelchair utilization. The most satisfied were the ones with better performance in terms of social participation. The psychosocial impact, in terms of adaptability, was higher among users who transitioned from a manual to a PW compared to those who already had a PW. There was an overall positive psychosocial impact of the powered wheelchairs, and, potentially, an increase in the quality of life of the users. There's a lack of research in this area, specifically to evaluate the impact of the environmental barriers on the social participation and on the quality of life of powered wheelchair users.