Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2025
08:55
Determining and Controlling External Power Output During Regular Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion
Published on: February 5, 2020
7.6K
Older Wheelchair Users Recommend Age-Friendly Design Improvements to a Wheelchair Maintenance App: Mixed Methods
Alyssa Boccardi1, Fangzheng Wu1, Jon Pearlman1
1Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
JMIR Aging
|October 18, 2022
Summary
Wheelchair part failures are increasing, but the WheelTrak app can help. This app provides alerts for preventative wheelchair maintenance, aiming to improve compliance and reduce user consequences.
Area of Science:
- Assistive Technology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Gerontology
Background:
- Wheelchair part failures have doubled in the past decade, increasing risks for users.
- Preventative maintenance is crucial for reducing wheelchair failures and their consequences.
- The WheelTrak smartphone application is being developed to prompt users for required maintenance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a wheelchair maintenance app (WheelTrak) based on stakeholder input.
- To explore older adults' experiences with the app, including barriers and facilitators to maintenance.
Main Methods:
- Mixed methods approach involving stakeholder interviews and app development in two stages.
- Usability testing and semistructured interviews with older wheelchair and scooter users.
- System Usability Scale (SUS) employed to measure app usability.
Main Results:
- Stakeholder interviews (n=57) informed app design, prioritizing user needs.
- Usability testing with 12 older adults showed 75% willingness to use WheelTrak for maintenance.
- Identified themes: app improvements, maintenance barriers (health, knowledge), consequences of failure, and technology acceptance. Older adults favored simplicity, readability, and educational resources.
Conclusions:
- Age-friendly design improvements enhance the WheelTrak app's usability and adoption for older adults.
- The WheelTrak app demonstrates near-average system usability.
- Further usability testing is planned post-app revision to optimize performance.
