Development of "My Wheelchair Guide" app: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Assistive Technology
• Digital Health

Background:

• The
• My Wheelchair Guide
• smartphone application offers crucial information on wheelchair use and service delivery for novice users.
• It aims to empower users in selecting appropriate wheelchairs and promote safe, effective usage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the development of the
• My Wheelchair Guide
• app.
• To evaluate the usability of the
• Use a Wheelchair
• section of the app.

Main Methods:

• Usability testing involving ten manual wheelchair users and four seating/mobility professionals.
• Participants completed surveys and semi-structured interviews.
• In-app checklists were used for self-assessment of wheelchair fit, setup, and skills.
• Content analysis of interview transcripts identified key themes.

Main Results:

• All participants found the app easy to use.
• The
• Use a Wheelchair
• section was recognized as highly beneficial for new wheelchair users.
• Self-assessment checklists aided in reviewing wheelchair setup and skills.
• Participants provided recommendations for app refinement.

Conclusions:

• The
• Use a Wheelchair
• app section is a valuable and user-friendly educational tool.
• User feedback will inform app revisions for an improved user experience.
• Future research should assess the app's impact on user knowledge and self-advocacy.