Naomi Gefen, Patrice L Weiss, Amihai Rigbi, Lori Rosenberg
{"title":"Lessons learned from a pediatric powered mobility lending program.","authors":"Naomi Gefen, Patrice L Weiss, Amihai Rigbi, Lori Rosenberg","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2023.2276232","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate children's characteristics and impact of a powered wheelchair lending program including comparisons of diagnostic sub-groups, and validation of a predictive model of powered mobility proficiency.</p><p><strong>Methods and materials: </strong>This retrospective study included 172 children who participated in the ALYN powered mobility lending program from 3/2009-7/2022. Demographics and functional levels were measured <i>via</i> questionnaires; driving proficiency was evaluated when the wheelchair was returned, and parents and children were interviewed following their participation in the program.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two diagnostic groups were identified: cerebral palsy (CP) (<i>n</i> = 136, median = 9.75 yrs) and other neuromuscular diseases (NMD) (<i>n</i> = 30, median = 5.83 yrs). They differed significantly in the age they commenced PM training, the male/female ratio, walking ability and access mode. Fifty-seven percent of the participants with CP achieved powered mobility proficiency, a rate that was significantly lower than the 73% proficiency found for the NMD group. Four significant predictors were identified: communication, manual wheelchair operation, access mode and go-stop upon request. They predicted proficiency in approximately 80% of cases. Overall feedback from the parents and children indicated that their personal and family's quality of life improved as a result of their child's ability to use a powered wheelchair.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A lending program provides children with opportunities to improve mobility skills in an appropriate powered wheelchair. Children who can communicate verbally, propel a manual wheelchair, use a joystick and go-stop upon request are significantly more likely to become proficient drivers; however, many who were unable to complete these tasks also improved and even became proficient drivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2023.2276232","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2023/10/28 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"REHABILITATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate children's characteristics and impact of a powered wheelchair lending program including comparisons of diagnostic sub-groups, and validation of a predictive model of powered mobility proficiency.
Methods and materials: This retrospective study included 172 children who participated in the ALYN powered mobility lending program from 3/2009-7/2022. Demographics and functional levels were measured via questionnaires; driving proficiency was evaluated when the wheelchair was returned, and parents and children were interviewed following their participation in the program.
Results: Two diagnostic groups were identified: cerebral palsy (CP) (n = 136, median = 9.75 yrs) and other neuromuscular diseases (NMD) (n = 30, median = 5.83 yrs). They differed significantly in the age they commenced PM training, the male/female ratio, walking ability and access mode. Fifty-seven percent of the participants with CP achieved powered mobility proficiency, a rate that was significantly lower than the 73% proficiency found for the NMD group. Four significant predictors were identified: communication, manual wheelchair operation, access mode and go-stop upon request. They predicted proficiency in approximately 80% of cases. Overall feedback from the parents and children indicated that their personal and family's quality of life improved as a result of their child's ability to use a powered wheelchair.
Conclusions: A lending program provides children with opportunities to improve mobility skills in an appropriate powered wheelchair. Children who can communicate verbally, propel a manual wheelchair, use a joystick and go-stop upon request are significantly more likely to become proficient drivers; however, many who were unable to complete these tasks also improved and even became proficient drivers.