A Survey on the Actual Condition of the Use of Powered Wheelchair and Scooter

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of powered wheelchair and scooter and to investigate the factors affecting the accidents and injuries. METHOD: We investigated 90 subjects with mobility disability who had used powered wheelchair or scooter more than a year. The subjects responded to a questionnaire of the 34 items. RESULTS: Seventy (77.7%) of respondents used powered wheelchair or scooter more than 3 days a week. More than 50% of them regarded the obstacles such as curbs or thresholds as the most common hindering factor to outside mobility. The causes of breakdown were due to battery, wheel, gear box and motor. About a third of 58 respondents were dissatisfied with the result of repair. The high cost of the repair was regarded as the leading cause of dissatisfaction. Contusions were the most common, with abrasion and sprain accounting for most of the remainder. Of the 18 users who were affected by injuries, only 11.1% wore a safety seatbelt. Only 25 of 89 respondents had a safety education. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the efficiency of power wheelchair and scooter was relatively high. But the obstacles such as curbs, recurrent breakdown, and concerns about the accident were regarded as the hindering factors to the outside mobility. The degree of satisfaction to the safety education is relatively low, so more systemic and practical programs need to be devised.