Satisfaction with rollators among community-living users: a follow-up study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Rollator use is increasing among individuals with restricted mobility.
• Limited research exists on user satisfaction and outcomes associated with rollator use.
• Understanding user experiences is crucial for optimizing mobility assistance devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate user satisfaction with rollators among individuals with mobility impairments.
• To identify factors influencing satisfaction and dissatisfaction with rollator use.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of rollators as a mobility aid.

Main Methods:

• A follow-up study involving 89 rollator users across seven Danish municipalities.
• User satisfaction assessed using the QUEST 1.0 tool via interviews at one and three months post-device provision.
• Data analyzed from 64 users available for the three-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Overall user satisfaction with rollators was high, with frequent device usage reported.
• Dissatisfaction was linked to specific issues such as handling difficulties and environmental accessibility problems.
• Factors like user frailty, living situation (alone), gender (women), and first-time use were associated with lower satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Rollators are valuable mobility aids and a relevant societal intervention for improving independence.
• Enhancing the person-technology fit, user training, and follow-up support can optimize rollator outcomes.
• Improvements in rollator design and accessibility of public transport and outdoor environments are recommended.