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Updated: Apr 3, 2026
Determining and Controlling External Power Output During Regular Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion
Published on: February 5, 2020
Exploratory Validation of a Multidimensional Power Wheelchair Outcomes Toolkit
W Ben Mortenson1, Louise Demers2, Paula W Rushton3
1Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Power wheelchair outcomes toolkit measures are related. Higher wheelchair confidence and skills correlate with better participation and life space, supporting their use in assessing power wheelchair users.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Assistive Technology
- Clinical Outcomes Research
Background:
- Power wheelchair use is crucial for mobility and participation in individuals with disabilities.
- Assessing outcomes in power wheelchair users requires validated and reliable measurement tools.
- Understanding the relationships between different outcome measures is essential for comprehensive assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the interrelationships among various measures within a power wheelchair outcomes toolkit.
- To determine if the toolkit measures provide complementary information on power wheelchair user outcomes.
- To provide empirical support for the utility of the power wheelchair outcomes toolkit.
Main Methods:
- Path analysis was used to examine cross-sectional data from self-report questionnaires and objective measures.
- Data were collected from 128 power wheelchair users across six sites.
- Measures included the Wheelchair Skills Test, Late-Life Disability Index, Life-Space Assessment, Assistive Technology Outcomes Profile for Mobility, and Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale.
Main Results:
- Wheelchair confidence was significantly associated with reduced perceived difficulty in activity and participation, increased life space, and greater wheelchair skills.
- Reduced perceived difficulty with activity was linked to increased participation frequency.
- Life-space mobility and reduced participation difficulty were independently associated with increased participation frequency.
Conclusions:
- The measures within the power wheelchair outcomes toolkit demonstrate empirical support and interrelationships.
- These measures appear to capture complementary aspects of power wheelchair use, including skills, confidence, and participation.
- The toolkit provides a valuable framework for assessing diverse outcomes in power wheelchair users.
