Abstract
Aim The meaning of wheelchair and seating assistive technology and the impact inappropriate provision has on people’s lives from a service user’s perspective within an Irish context is highlighted. There is a dearth in evidence examining the process of wheelchair and seating provision and the interconnectedness between satisfaction, performance and participation from an equality and human rights perspective. The purpose if the study is to investigate wheelchair service users’ perspectives of wheelchair and seating provision in Ireland. Method This is a mixed-methods study with an exploratory sequential design that includes two phases. During phase one, wheelchair service users were invited to take part in qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analysed and formed part of a larger ethnographic study involving multiple stakeholders in sustainable wheelchair and seating provision strategy development. In phase two, an online Survey Monkey questionnaire was distributed to obtain a wider overview of wheelchair service provision from a wheelchair service users perspective. Data obtained from the closed questions and content analysis for open comments was analysed descriptively for this phase. Results Eight wheelchair service users agreed to participate in the interviews and 273 responded to the online survey. Thematic analysis and questionnaire frequency and content analysis revealed the vital meaning of wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision. However, bottlenecks within the system affect daily living, with qualitative data highlighting the obstruction to experiences of independent living from initial appointment to wheelchair breakdowns during daily life. Conclusion Appropriate wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision is a basic human right, supported by the essential and embodied nature of the wheelchair as demonstrated through the wheelchair service users’ perspective throughout this study. These findings highlight the impact of ad-hoc services on individual freedoms and how the overall pace of the system affects a person’s ability to organise their time as an equal member of the community across the lifespan. A national review of wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision services is called for, giving consideration to access to services, assessment and delivery, follow up and management, education and training. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision as a basic human right is misunderstood. Appropriate wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision should be provided to meet this primary need as a pre-requisite for survival. Every aspect of the wheelchair and seating provision process impacts on occupational performance, equality of opportunity and community mobility. Wheelchair and seating assistive technology professionals and providers have a responsibility to review their practice and service provision systems.
Highlights
Appropriate provision of wheelchair and seating assistive technology is an essential prerequisite to community mobility and active participation in daily life for many people with mobility impairments
Few studies have examined the process of wheelchair and seating provision and the interrelation or interdependence between satisfaction, performance and participation to empower people with mobility impairments to reach their potential from an equality and human rights perspective [9,10]
The overall service provision system has impacts on wheelchair users’ daily balance and temporal order, making it difficult for individuals to organise their lives [83]. These results outline a better understanding of the impact of wheelchair provision from the service users’ perspective, which is a key consideration in the planning of wheelchair seating and assistive technology provision services [5,32]
Summary
Appropriate provision of wheelchair and seating assistive technology is an essential prerequisite to community mobility and active participation in daily life for many people with mobility impairments. Research to date on wheelchair and seating assistive technology generally either explores users’ satisfaction with and experience of their wheelchair or mobility device [1,2,3], or how the use of devices affects performance, active participation and quality of life [4,5,6,7,8]. Few studies have examined the process of wheelchair and seating provision and the interrelation or interdependence between satisfaction, performance and participation to empower people with mobility impairments to reach their potential from an equality and human rights perspective [9,10]. The paper highlights the meaning of wheelchair and seating assistive technology and the impact inappropriate provision has on people’s lives from a service user’s perspective in an Irish context
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