Factors contributing to extended activity times during the provision of wheeled mobility devices

Author: Sprigle Stephen   De l'aune William  

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

ISSN: 1748-3107

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol.8, Iss.3, 2013-05, pp. : 225-231

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Abstract

Purpose: A secondary analysis was performed on data from a recent time-motion study documenting the type and duration of activities performed during the provision of wheeled mobility and seating devices. The objective of this analysis was to report factors that were most associated with activities having extended durations. Method: Activities were categorized as occurring during the visit-preparation, pre-delivery, delivery or follow-up phases of equipment provision. Extended activities were defined as activities at or exceeding the 75th percentile, corresponding to activities exceeding 37.5 min. Logistic regression and Odd Ratio calculations were used to identify factors that were associated with extended encounters with clients. Results: Extended activities were more likely to be associated with Group 4 power chairs, ultra-lightweight wheelchairs and seating systems comprised of a combination of technologies, such as those with postural supports or using made-to measure or custom-molded techniques. Conclusions: Wheelchair and seating system type were more predictive of extended activities compared to diagnostic categories. This result leads us to posit that functional needs - rather than diagnosis - impacts the duration of client encounters and the complexity of the equipment prescribed to the user. The results also indicate that more complex equipment were more likely to require extended encounters than less complex devices in their respective groupings. Implications for Rehabilitation The provision of wheelchairs and seating systems include many types of activities including some which last for extended or lengthy periods of time. Complex equipment were more associated with extended activities compared to client diagnosis meaning that a person's functional ability influences the complexity of the intervention more than diagnosis. Activities occurring prior to delivery, including assessment and wheelchair assembly, were twice as likely to last an extended time compared to other activities. The activities associated with ultralight weight manual wheelchairs were 8 times more likely to require lengthy activities compared to all other types of wheelchairs.