Yu-Kuang Wu1,2, Hsin-Yi Liu1,2, Annmarie Kelleher1,2, Jonathan Pearlman1,2, Dan Ding1,2, Rory A Cooper1,2. 1. a Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , PA , USA. 2. b Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology , Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate correlations between power seat functions (PSFs) usage and wheelchair discomfort. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental design: Time series design. SETTING: In-home trial in participants' home/community. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen power wheelchair users who independently used power wheelchairs equipped with PSFs as their primary means of mobility. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PSF usage variables include the frequency of performing repositioning and using PSFs (tilt, recline, legrests and seat elevation), wheelchair occupancy, and driving distance. The Tool for Assessing Wheelchair disComfort (TAWC) were used to evaluate general discomfort and discomfort intensity. RESULTS: Spearman correlation coefficient showed that the frequency of using tilt, recline, and legrest is significantly correlated with discomfort intensity. Multiple regression analysis with backward stepwise indicated that these functions can explain 43.8% of the variance (R2 = .438, F(3,33) = 8.588, P < 0.01) in the discomfort intensity score. The best-first decision tree shows that the frequency of using the legrest function was the top node, followed by recline and tilt functions. The overall accuracy of prediction with ten-fold cross validation for discomfort intensity was 79.4%. CONCLUSIONS: For people who used power wheelchairs equipped with PSFs, correlation analysis and regression modeling provided evidence from the quantitative data that increasing the frequency of using PSFs may decrease wheelchair discomfort. Future studies should include interventions to encourage people to use their PSFs appropriately.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate correlations between power seat functions (PSFs) usage and wheelchair discomfort. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental design: Time series design. SETTING: In-home trial in participants' home/community. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen power wheelchair users who independently used power wheelchairs equipped with PSFs as their primary means of mobility. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PSF usage variables include the frequency of performing repositioning and using PSFs (tilt, recline, legrests and seat elevation), wheelchair occupancy, and driving distance. The Tool for Assessing Wheelchair disComfort (TAWC) were used to evaluate general discomfort and discomfort intensity. RESULTS: Spearman correlation coefficient showed that the frequency of using tilt, recline, and legrest is significantly correlated with discomfort intensity. Multiple regression analysis with backward stepwise indicated that these functions can explain 43.8% of the variance (R2 = .438, F(3,33) = 8.588, P < 0.01) in the discomfort intensity score. The best-first decision tree shows that the frequency of using the legrest function was the top node, followed by recline and tilt functions. The overall accuracy of prediction with ten-fold cross validation for discomfort intensity was 79.4%. CONCLUSIONS: For people who used power wheelchairs equipped with PSFs, correlation analysis and regression modeling provided evidence from the quantitative data that increasing the frequency of using PSFs may decrease wheelchair discomfort. Future studies should include interventions to encourage people to use their PSFs appropriately.
Authors: Dan Ding; Elizabeth Leister; Rory A Cooper; Rosemarie Cooper; Annmarie Kelleher; Shirley G Fitzgerald; Michael L Boninger Journal: J Rehabil Res Dev Date: 2008