Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology最新文献

{"title":"Assistive device usage among children living with cerebral palsy: parents' knowledge and perspective on its availability and usage at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ghana.","authors":"Comfort Ama Osei, Richard Kwaku Bawah, James Nii Amar Aryiku, Felix Obuobi-Darko, Crescensia Baarkoh, Agnes Delali Agudu","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2743911","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2026.2743911","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Assistive devices can benefit a wide range of people, including those living with disabilities; those affected by severe forms of disease or trauma; and those requiring rehabilitation. Access to these devices is limited in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The study explored parents' perspectives on the availability and use of assistive devices among children with cerebral palsy at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>An explorative qualitative research design was employed, with purposive sampling used in recruiting parents of children with cerebral palsy. Data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed through thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three main themes emerged: (1) parents' knowledge and understanding of assistive devices, (2) parents' experiences of children's usage of assistive devices, and (3) availability and accessibility of assistive devices for children with cerebral palsy. Participants demonstrated basic knowledge of assistive devices, mainly identifying mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers. While some expressed satisfaction with the benefits of these devices, others were dissatisfied with the limited range and lack of advanced technologies. Significant barriers to access were identified, including limited availability, complex acquisition processes, delays in obtaining devices, and high costs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study concludes that, among children with cerebral palsy, access to assistive devices is constrained not only by the availability of the devices but also by a mismatch between children's individual functional needs and the type, affordability, and accessibility.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149116467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Access to assistive technology for cerebral palsy: stakeholder and lived-experience perspectives from international focus groups.","authors":"María José Auil, John Coughlan, Anna Landre, Gopi Kumar, Ben Oldfrey","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2737540","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2026.2737540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>People with cerebral palsy (CP) face persistent barriers to accessing appropriate assistive technology (AT), despite its critical role in supporting health, independence, and participation. This study examines perspectives from people with CP, caregivers, rehabilitation professionals, AT developers, and disability-sector stakeholders to identify systemic barriers to AT access and explore priorities for strengthening AT systems globally. The aim is to inform the WHO-UNICEF Global Roadmap on Assistive Technology by integrating lived, professional, and system-level perspectives into policy and innovation discourse.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Two sequential international virtual focus groups were conducted in March 2025 with 49 participants in the first session and 42 in the second, representing 20 countries across low-, middle-, and high-income settings. The first session explored challenges in AT access, and the second focused on potential solutions. Discussions were transcribed, anonymised, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis identified nine systemic barriers, including high costs, bureaucratic gaps, limited repair infrastructure, and exclusion from services in adulthood. Five priority areas emerged: localised production, technology-enabled customisation, strengthened service and workforce systems, cross-sector collaboration, and global peer learning.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Grounding AT policy and innovation in participatory approaches that integrate lived experience alongside professional expertise can support more inclusive, resilient, and lifespan-oriented AT systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149116420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term provision and follow-up of assistive technology in post-humanitarian emergency contexts: a scoping review.","authors":"Ellie Cole, Victoria Austin, Maria Kett","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2739187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2026.2739187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Access to assistive technology (AT) is critical in humanitarian settings, yet availability remains extremely limited. Despite crises becoming more frequent and protracted, little is known about the situation beyond the acute emergency phase.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This scoping review examines existing evidence on long-term AT provision and follow-up after the immediate response period. The review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Six databases were searched, and publications focusing on AT in post-emergency, low-and-middle-income contexts published after 2015 were eligible. Of 487 records screened, only 16 met these criteria.</p><p><strong>Data charting: </strong>A form was designed to record publication details, study characteristics and key findings. Data were interpreted using the WHO-GATE 5P framework (People, Policy, Products, Provision, Personnel).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings reveal a lack of systematic AT provision in post-emergency settings. Services were often ad hoc, donor-driven, and focused on one-off device distribution. Mobility devices, particularly prostheses and wheelchairs, were most frequently reported, with studies largely situated in post-earthquake or refugee contexts. Barriers including cost, limited availability, and low-awareness persisted across settings. Contextual factors strongly shaped access and effectiveness, and unmet need varied widely between populations. Fragile health systems, restrictive policies, and trained personnel shortages further undermined long-term sustainability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review highlights a significant evidence gap regarding long-term provision and follow-up of AT following humanitarian crises. Findings underscore the importance of context in shaping access and effectiveness during recovery, pointing to the need for integrated approaches linking humanitarian action with social protection systems to ensure sustained support and inclusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149116507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating navigational behavior of wheelchair users in an urban environment guided by a mobile geospatial assistive navigation technology.","authors":"Sanaz Azimi, Mir Abolfazl Mostafavi, Krista L Best, Aurélie Dommes, Angélique Montuwy","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2665326","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2665326","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Social participation among wheelchair users depends heavily on mobility. While assistive navigation technologies like Google Maps have reshaped urban mobility, they often overlook the specific needs of wheelchair users. This study aimed to explore how wheelchair users interact with urban environments while using an assistive navigation technology and find gaps in route instructions, in order to determine the key information components required for adapted route instructions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A mixed-methods, simultaneous quantitative-qualitative field study was conducted with nine manual wheelchair users (7 males and 2 females, aged 21 to 61 years) in Quebec City, Canada. Participants navigated a predefined route using Google Maps while wearing eye-tracking glasses. Their navigation and semi-structured interviews during navigation were recorded, and their route descriptions were finally collected. Analysis of participants' hesitation, confusion, stops, errors, visual behaviour, and perceptions was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings revealed the need for more adapted instructions enriched with street-crossing and continuing-straight actions. The study emphasized the importance of alerts for accessibility and safety issues during wayfaring, and salient environmental objects to support orientation and route confirmation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Incorporating such information into adapted route instructions allows wheelchair users to anticipate route accessibility and salient environmental objects and focus on their surroundings rather than continuously checking cellphone and routes. This can improve their navigation experience and, ultimately, their social participation and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"3725-3746"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Semi-immersive virtual reality protocol assessing gait and balance in remote concussion.","authors":"Brent A Harper, Michael Shiraishi, Rahul Soangra","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2664015","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2664015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This proof-of-concept study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel semi-immersive virtual reality dual-task protocol in identifying lingering postural control deficits in individuals with a remote history of concussion. Study aimed to examine how dual-tasking - specifically, centred and peripheral vision Stroop tasks - affects postural sway during standing and walking in previously concussed individuals and healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The virtual reality system integrated motion capture and force plate technology to create an ecologically realistic environment, enabling more realistic task performance. A divided attention task incorporating centred and peripheral visual stimuli was administered during standing and walking conditions. Task performance was compared between healthy controls and individuals with a documented history of concussion. Statistical analyses included independent-samples t-tests, MANOVA, and Cohen's d for significant effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant gait and postural stability impairments were identified in concussed participants. Concussed individuals exhibited larger sway areas and slower sway dynamics during standing tasks and shorter strides during walking tasks. Concussed individuals exhibited a significantly larger sway area during both the centred Stroop balance task (<i>t</i>(14) = 2.60, <i>p</i> = .021, <i>d</i> = 1.15) and the peripheral Stroop balance task (<i>t</i>(13) = 2.27, <i>p</i> = .041, <i>d</i> = 1.06).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that semi-immersive virtual reality dual-task assessments, particularly those involving peripheral visual demands, may detect subtle post-concussion deficits often missed by standard evaluations. This highlights the potential of virtual reality based assistive technology tools to inform more personalised interventions. Such approaches may ultimately improve long-term outcomes and quality of life through more ecologically realistic, real-world assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"3573-3587"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147785848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Young-onset Parkinson's in the home: how identity, aesthetics and expectations affect the implementation of assistive technology in the home.","authors":"Lewis Johnstone","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2674311","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2674311","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) reshapes everyday life at home, yet research on how younger adults negotiate domestic space and home modification remains limited. This article examines how people living with YOPD make sense of, adopt, delay and resist home modifications and how these decisions are shaped by identity, aesthetics, relationships and expectations about the future.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study draws on qualitative data from an Australian project involving narrative, semi-structured interviews and a photovoice activity. Nine participants (aged 38-67) were selected due to their substantive engagement with home-related themes. Transcripts were analysed using experience-centred narrative analysis with an inductive, constant-comparative approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three interrelated findings were identified. First, home modifications often transformed the meaning of home, with assistive technologies contributing to feelings of medicalisation as domestic spaces came to resemble \"nursing homes.\" This created tensions between safety, aesthetics and identity. Second, participants evaluated homes through prognosis, planning for uncertain futures by prioritising accessibility within the dwelling and beyond it, revealing how homes were re-imagined as infrastructures for sustaining autonomy. Third, participants described feeling \"aged out of time,\" as assistive devices signalled premature ageing, prompting selective uptake and delayed implementation even when supports were available.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Home modification in YOPD is not a purely functional response to impairment but a sociomaterial negotiation that mediates identity, relationships, temporality and the meanings of home. Policies and services should better recognise the distinctive life-course positioning of younger adults with Parkinson's by supporting earlier, collaborative and aesthetically sensitive planning to home adaption.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"3812-3824"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147960347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A low-cost real-time embedded EOG-based assistive mobility system for individuals with motor function disorders.","authors":"Preetha S, Sasikala M, Mohanavelu K","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2665821","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2665821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Motor function disorders profoundly affect physical mobility and emotional well-being, often resulting in dependence on assistive care. Since eye movements remain largely unaffected, they play a vital role in enabling communication and control. Electrooculography (EOG), which records eye movements within the 0.5-40 Hz range, has significant potential for enhancing human-computer interaction (HCI). This study aimed to develop a real-time, low-cost EOG-based assistive device to support individuals with motor impairments, including stroke survivors and amputees. A two-channel EOG-based assistive device was designed and implemented. EOG signals corresponding to specific eye movements were recorded from both able-bodied and disabled participants. The system incorporated a designed amplifier and an ESP32 microcontroller for on-board signal processing. Preprocessing steps included powerline noise removal, smoothing, and mean subtraction. A lightweight, subject-specific threshold-based classifier was employed to achieve efficient and accurate classification suitable for embedded deployment. The proposed system achieved an average accuracy of 100% for healthy participants and 99.2% for disabled participants. The mean response times (RTs) were 2.03 and 2.04 s, while the corresponding information transfer rates (ITRs) were 136.04 and 132.89 bits/min. User feedback highlighted the system's ease of use, safety, and comfort. Classified eye movements and blinks were successfully mapped to wheelchair navigation commands, enabling intuitive mobility control. This portable, real-time, EOG-based system provides a practical and effective mobility solution for individuals with severe motor disabilities. Its low-cost and reliable design makes it especially suitable for deployment in low-resource environments, offering a pathway towards inclusive and accessible assistive technologies.HighlightsDeveloped a two-channel real-time electrooculography (EOG) mobility-assistive device for individuals with motor function disorders, utilising a custom amplifier and ESP32 microcontroller for signal processing and wheelchair control.Classified eye movements and blinks for wheelchair navigation, ensuring ease of use, safety, and comfort, making it suitable for low-resource settings.Achieved 100% accuracy for healthy subjects and 99.2% for disabled subjects, with response times of 2.03s and 2.04s, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"3952-3972"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wheelchair user spatial clustering in Wales is associated with socioeconomic deprivation: a multi-domain analysis using the Welsh index of multiple deprivation.","authors":"Dean Pym","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2678549","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2678549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Wheelchair users represent a population with significant and often permanent mobility impairment. Despite well-established links between disability and socioeconomic deprivation, the geographic relationship between wheelchair user concentration and area-level deprivation has not previously been examined at national scale. This study aimed to identify spatial clusters of wheelchair users across Wales and characterise their association with socioeconomic deprivation across domains of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional ecological study used 43,790 NHS-registered wheelchair users across all 1,917 Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in Wales. Local Moran's I identified statistically significant High-High (HH) spatial clusters of wheelchair user counts. Chi-square goodness of fit tests, chi-square tests of association, and binary logistic regression quantified the association between WIMD deprivation quintile (Q1-5) and HH clustering across WIMD domain, with Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate correction applied throughout.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>One-hundred-and-ten HH clusters were identified, with 41% in the most deprived WIMD Overall quintile. Significant deprivation gradients were observed across six domains; Health and Employment showed the strongest associations, with Q1:Q5 wheelchair user ratios of 1.747 and 1.738 and up to 20-fold greater odds of HH cluster membership in the most deprived quintile. Housing and Access to Services showed divergent patterns, with clusters concentrated in areas of moderate rather than extreme deprivation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Wheelchair user spatial clustering in Wales is strongly associated with socioeconomic deprivation, but the association varies by WIMD domain. These findings provide actionable spatial evidence to support equitable NHS wheelchair service commissioning aligned with true geographic need.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"3850-3862"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148018230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design of a self-positioning cleaning nursing bed toilet with a robotic hand based on infrared thermal imaging.","authors":"Mohammed Ali Abdulrahman Al-Shameri, Liang Han, Arfan Ali Mohammed Qasem, Muhammad Sibtain","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2689118","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2689118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study develops a novel nursing bed toilet system integrated with a soft robotic hand and an infra-red array camera sensor to assist older adults' post-defaecation hygiene, while reducing caregiver workload and enhancing patient comfort and dignity.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The novel nursing bed toilet was designed through an integrated mechanical, control, and sensing framework. The system comprises a robot arm, a Soft Robotic hand, and an infra-red array sensor. The soft robotic hand integrates three units: an ultrasonic vibration cleaning, a water spray and a tendon-driven actuation mechanism for post-defaecation perianal hygiene. To clean the buttocks, it is necessary to know the position of the anus. Therefore, the sensing system was developed to determine the position of the anus using a thermal infra-red sensor. Due to the sensitivity of the area, a heating circuit was created to simulate the human anus temperature for system validation. The anus temperature was measured in 17 male participants using a digital thermometer. The average temperature was 37.1 °C. Experimental evaluations included static and dynamic positioning tests using a plastic buttock model with a heating circuit simulating the human anus, supporting the reliability of thermal-based detection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Experimental evaluation of the toilet achieved high accuracy in anus positioning with a maximum error of 5 mm and a stable dynamic response, demonstrating reliable localisation performance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This work presents the first full implementation of a toilet. It enables autonomous perianal hygiene for patients in nursing beds, reducing caregiver burden while preserving patient comfort and dignity.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"3993-4026"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148278713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wheelchair Skills test - questionnaire for manual wheelchair users: Italian translation and preliminary validation.","authors":"Paula W Rushton, R Lee Kirby, Yohali Burrola-Mendez, Anna Berardi, Mariangela Aceto, Valentina Grossi, Rosanna Porcaro, Donatella Valente, Marco Tofani","doi":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2664016","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17483107.2026.2664016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To translate and culturally adapt the Wheelchair Skills Test-Questionnaire (WST-Q) into Italian, and to assess its reliability, measurement error and validity in manual wheelchair users.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The WST-Q was translated and culturally adapted using forward-backward translation, expert review, and cognitive debriefing with wheelchair users and rehabilitation professionals. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, [ICC]), measurement error (Standard Error of Measurement [SEM] and the Smallest Real Difference [SRD]) were calculated. Validity was examined through WST-Q scores correlations (concurrent validity) and known-groups comparisons (years of use, training) (construct validity). A General Linear Model (GLM) was used to explore the effects of clinical and demographic factors, accounting for interaction terms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-four manual wheelchair users, with a mean age of 44.0 years (SD: 15.7), participated in the study. Cronbach's α was 0.96-0.97 across WST-Q scores. ICCs indicated excellent test-retest reliability (0.88-0.92). SEM ranged from 4.9 to 6.9, and SRD from 13.6 to 19.3. Strong correlation among WST-Q scores was observed (<i>p</i> = 0.81-0.90, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Known-groups validity showed higher scores in participants with >2 years of wheelchair use and in those with training. GLM analysis identified significant effects of baseline pathology, wheelchair type, gender, and training, with several interaction effects, explaining 77-89% of score variance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Italian WST-Q demonstrated excellent reliability, acceptable measurement error, and good validity. It is suitable for assessing self-reported manual wheelchair skills in Italian rehabilitation settings, supporting standardised and evidence-based practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":47806,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Rehabilitation-Assistive Technology","volume":" ","pages":"3588-3601"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147822214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}