Quality of wheelchair services as perceived by users in rural Bangalore district, India: a cross-sectional survey.

CONCLUSION: Wheelchairs should be easy to use with support services being easily accessible. A wheelchair should be delivered together with a training program to provide the user with the skills to operate and maintain the wheelchair. There are gender-wise differences in satisfaction towards wheelchair services that influence satisfaction. Implications for rehabilitation Training of wheelchair skills should be part of the delivery process as this positively impacts satisfaction of wheelchair users and increases their independent mobility. Requirements towards a wheelchair and its support service are gender specific. Recognizing and acting upon the differing needs between male and female wheelchair users should be an integral part of a wheelchair provision service. Wheelchair users should take part in the development and implementation of novel technologies, policies and service delivery schemes as their need is not always answered. This could lead to a reduced uptake, or even failure, of innovations in (wheelchair) services. The financial situation of a wheelchair user is a factor that influences satisfaction. Therefore, empowering and/or enabling wheelchair users to take part in activities that earns them an income should be part of a wheelchair service. PMID: 33244999 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology. - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol Source Type: research