Emma M Smith1, Edward M Giesbrecht2, W Ben Mortenson3, William C Miller4. 1. E.M. Smith, MScOT, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Lab, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2. E.M. Giesbrecht, BMR(OT), Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia; GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Lab; Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute; and International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries. 3. W.B. Mortenson, OT, PhD, GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Lab; Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute; Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia; and International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries. 4. W.C. Miller, PhD, GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Lab, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, T325-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2B5; and International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. bill.miller@ubc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mobility impairments are the third leading cause of disability for community-dwelling Canadians. Wheelchairs and scooters help compensate for these challenges. There are limited data within the last decade estimating the prevalence of wheelchair and scooter use in Canada. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were: (1) to estimate the prevalence of wheelchair and scooter use in Canada and (2) to explore relevant demographic characteristics of wheelchair and scooter users. DESIGN: This study was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional national survey. METHODS: The Canadian Survey on Disability (2012) collected data on wheelchair and scooter use from community-dwelling individuals aged 15 years and over with a self-identified activity limitation on the National Household Survey. Prevalence estimates were calculated as weighted frequencies, with cross-tabulations to determine the number of wheelchair and scooter users in Canada, by province, and demographic characteristics (ie, age, sex) and bootstrapping to estimate the variance of all point estimates. RESULTS: There were approximately 288,800 community-dwelling wheelchair and scooter users aged 15 years and over, representing 1.0% of the Canadian population. The sample included 197,560 manual wheelchair users, 42,360 powered wheelchair users, and 108,550 scooter users. Wheelchair and scooter users were predominantly women, with a mean age of 65 years. Approximately 50,620 individuals used a combination of 2 different types of devices. LIMITATIONS: The results are representative of individuals living in the community in Canada and exclude individuals in residential or group-based settings; estimates do not represent the true population prevalence. CONCLUSION: This analysis is the first in more than 10 years to provide a prevalence estimate and description of wheelchair and scooter users in Canada. Since 2004, there has been an increase in the proportion of the population who use wheelchairs and scooters, likely related to an aging Canadian population. These new prevalence data have potential to inform policy, research, and clinical practice.
BACKGROUND: Mobility impairments are the third leading cause of disability for community-dwelling Canadians. Wheelchairs and scooters help compensate for these challenges. There are limited data within the last decade estimating the prevalence of wheelchair and scooter use in Canada. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were: (1) to estimate the prevalence of wheelchair and scooter use in Canada and (2) to explore relevant demographic characteristics of wheelchair and scooter users. DESIGN: This study was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional national survey. METHODS: The Canadian Survey on Disability (2012) collected data on wheelchair and scooter use from community-dwelling individuals aged 15 years and over with a self-identified activity limitation on the National Household Survey. Prevalence estimates were calculated as weighted frequencies, with cross-tabulations to determine the number of wheelchair and scooter users in Canada, by province, and demographic characteristics (ie, age, sex) and bootstrapping to estimate the variance of all point estimates. RESULTS: There were approximately 288,800 community-dwelling wheelchair and scooter users aged 15 years and over, representing 1.0% of the Canadian population. The sample included 197,560 manual wheelchair users, 42,360 powered wheelchair users, and 108,550 scooter users. Wheelchair and scooter users were predominantly women, with a mean age of 65 years. Approximately 50,620 individuals used a combination of 2 different types of devices. LIMITATIONS: The results are representative of individuals living in the community in Canada and exclude individuals in residential or group-based settings; estimates do not represent the true population prevalence. CONCLUSION: This analysis is the first in more than 10 years to provide a prevalence estimate and description of wheelchair and scooter users in Canada. Since 2004, there has been an increase in the proportion of the population who use wheelchairs and scooters, likely related to an aging Canadian population. These new prevalence data have potential to inform policy, research, and clinical practice.
Authors: Laura A McClure; Michael L Boninger; Michelle L Oyster; Steve Williams; Bethlyn Houlihan; Jesse A Lieberman; Rory A Cooper Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: François Routhier; Josiane Lettre; William C Miller; Jaimie F Borisoff; Kate Keetch; Ian M Mitchell; CanWheel Research Team Journal: Assist Technol Date: 2017-01-04
Authors: François Routhier; Josiane Lettre; William C Miller; Jaimie F Borisoff; Kate Keetch; Ian M Mitchell Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2017-02-13 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: W Ben Mortenson; Sharon Jang; Charlie H Goldsmith; Laura Hurd Clarke; Sandra Hobson; Richelle Emery Journal: Trials Date: 2017-05-25 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Elsa M Orellano-Colón; Erick L Suárez-Pérez; Marta Rivero-Méndez; Claudia X Boneu-Meléndez; Nelson Varas-Díaz; Mauricio Lizama-Troncoso; Ivonne Z Jiménez-Velázquez; Arelí León-Astor; Jeffrey W Jutai Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2021-07-10 Impact factor: 3.921
Authors: Charles Campeau-Vallerand; François Michaud; François Routhier; Philippe S Archambault; Dominic Létourneau; Dominique Gélinas-Bronsard; Claudine Auger Journal: JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol Date: 2019-10-26