Lessons learned from a pediatric powered mobility lending program

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Assistive Technology
• Mobility Research

Background:

• Powered mobility devices (PMDs) are crucial for enhancing independence in children with mobility impairments.
• Lending programs offer a valuable pathway for children to trial and adapt to PMDs before long-term commitment.
• Understanding factors influencing PMD proficiency is essential for optimizing rehabilitation outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the characteristics and impact of a powered wheelchair lending program for children.
• To compare outcomes between children with cerebral palsy (CP) and other neuromuscular diseases (NMD).
• To validate a predictive model for powered mobility proficiency.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 172 children in a powered mobility lending program (2009-2022).
• Data collection via questionnaires on demographics and functional levels.
• Evaluation of driving proficiency and interviews with participants and parents.

Main Results:

• Children with NMD (73% proficiency) showed higher powered mobility proficiency than those with CP (57%).
• Significant predictors of proficiency included communication, manual wheelchair operation, access mode, and go-stop ability, predicting outcomes in ~80% of cases.
• The program notably improved participants' and families' quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Powered wheelchair lending programs effectively enhance children's mobility skills and quality of life.
• Specific skills like communication and manual wheelchair operation predict powered mobility success.
• Even children initially unable to perform certain tasks can achieve proficiency and benefit from PMDs.