Jordanne Florio1,2, Ursina Arnet1,2, Armin Gemperli1,2, Timo Hinrichs1,3. 1. a Swiss Paraplegic Research , Nottwil , Switzerland. 2. b Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy , University of Lucerne , Lucerne , Switzerland. 3. c Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the provision, use, and unmet need of assistive devices for personal mobility in the Swiss population with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Community survey 2012 of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 16 or older with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI residing in Switzerland. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: Provision, frequency of use, and unmet need (i.e. perceiving the need of a device but it not being provided) of 11 mobility devices were assessed by self-report and analyzed descriptively. Provision of devices was further analyzed by sex, age, SCI etiology, SCI severity, and time since SCI. RESULTS: Devices reported highest for provision (N = 492; mean age 55.3 ± 15.1 years; 28.9% female) were adapted cars (78.2%) and manual wheelchairs (69.9%). Provision of various devices markedly varied with age and SCI severity (e.g. 34.6% of those aged 76+ had a walking frame compared to 3.1% of those aged 31-45; 50.0% of participants with complete tetraplegia had a power wheelchair compared to 7.6% of those with complete paraplegia). Many devices were mostly used daily (e.g. manual wheelchair) while others were mostly used less frequently (e.g. handbikes). Unmet need was highest for arm braces (53.2% of those in need) and power assisted wheelchairs (47.3%), and lowest for crutches (11.4%) and manual wheelchairs (4.8%). CONCLUSION: The devices individuals have or use is largely dependent on their age and SCI severity. While most participants have access to basic mobility devices, there is still a considerable degree of unmet need for certain devices.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the provision, use, and unmet need of assistive devices for personal mobility in the Swiss population with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Community survey 2012 of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 16 or older with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI residing in Switzerland. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: Provision, frequency of use, and unmet need (i.e. perceiving the need of a device but it not being provided) of 11 mobility devices were assessed by self-report and analyzed descriptively. Provision of devices was further analyzed by sex, age, SCI etiology, SCI severity, and time since SCI. RESULTS: Devices reported highest for provision (N = 492; mean age 55.3 ± 15.1 years; 28.9% female) were adapted cars (78.2%) and manual wheelchairs (69.9%). Provision of various devices markedly varied with age and SCI severity (e.g. 34.6% of those aged 76+ had a walking frame compared to 3.1% of those aged 31-45; 50.0% of participants with complete tetraplegia had a power wheelchair compared to 7.6% of those with complete paraplegia). Many devices were mostly used daily (e.g. manual wheelchair) while others were mostly used less frequently (e.g. handbikes). Unmet need was highest for arm braces (53.2% of those in need) and power assisted wheelchairs (47.3%), and lowest for crutches (11.4%) and manual wheelchairs (4.8%). CONCLUSION: The devices individuals have or use is largely dependent on their age and SCI severity. While most participants have access to basic mobility devices, there is still a considerable degree of unmet need for certain devices.
Authors: Marcel W M Post; Martin W G Brinkhof; Erik von Elm; Christine Boldt; Mirjam Brach; Christine Fekete; Inge Eriks-Hoogland; Armin Curt; Gerold Stucki Journal: Am J Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2011-11 Impact factor: 2.159
Authors: Mark T Bayley; R Lee Kirby; Farnoosh Farahani; Laura Titus; Cher Smith; François Routhier; Dany H Gagnon; Patricia Stapleford; S Mohammad Alavinia; B Catharine Craven Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2019-10 Impact factor: 1.985