Impact of Wheeled Seated Mobility Devices on Adult Users' and Their Caregivers' Occupational Performance: A Critical Literature Review

Abstract

The prescription of wheeled seated mobility devices for clients with mobility impairment is a growing area in occupational therapy practice. The goal is to enhance client participation in occupation through technical intervention. This critical review examines the body of knowledge concerning the impact and effectiveness of the provision of wheeled seated mobility on the occupational performance of wheelchair users and their caregivers. The scope and gaps in the literature are defined to identify areas for future research. While the focus is on the methodological issues of the research reports, the relevance of findings to occupational therapy practice will also be reviewed. The results of the 46 studies in this review indicate that the majority of research conducted thus far have methodological limitations, which limits the extent to which this body of research can be drawn upon to provide evidence for the effectiveness of wheeled mobility systems. While most of the studies reviewed addressed constructs of relevance to occupational therapy practice, there was an emphasis on performance components and inadequate attention to engagement in occupations. This review is an important first step in building the ability of occupational therapists to demonstrate effectiveness in wheeled seating interventions.

Recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rural regions: a meta-synthesis

“…Each article was evaluated for quality based on eight criteria: 1) study purpose; 2) literature; 3) study design; 4) sampling; 5) data collection; 6) analyses; 7) rigour; and 8) conclusions / implications. The scale (Table 1) is detailed in its evaluation of the research quality and can be scored on a point system (each section receiving a score of 1 = the criterion was met; 0 = the criterion was not satisfied), with a maximum score of 18 [32,33]. …”

Older people's use of powered wheelchairs for activity and participation

“…13), while research on activities and participation and other outcomes of using powered wheelchairs is scarce. Moreover, the studies are mainly qualitative or pilot studies (7,14) and the majority of the body of research has methodological limitations (15).…”

Living with an electric wheelchair – the user perspective

“…Beneficial effects on daily activities are also well described, e.g., personal care and functional mobility, employability [20,21]; work performance, leisure participation [22], and parenting [23]. In contrast, socio-cultural implications are seldom a research focus [24].…”