Outcomes of Rollator and Powered Wheelchair Interventions - User Satisfaction and Participation

Abstract: Rollator and powered wheelchair interventions are often applied to make participation possible for citizens with limited walking capacity. However, the research-based knowledge about outcomes is insufficient for societal prioritisation purposes and for quality development of assistive technology within occupational therapy contexts. In this thesis outcomes in terms of user satisfaction, participation, and frequency of use were investigated based on users? subjective assessments, collected by cross-sectional and follow-up interview studies in Danish municipalities, mainly among older persons. The levels of user satisfaction and participation were high, all devices were used, and user satisfaction increased over time, indicating that the interventions benefit the users and are worth while from a societal perspective. Even so, some rollator users had difficulties handling their rollator, the powered wheelchairs could not be used for all participation purposes, and some users were not satisfied in all respects, especially regarding assistive technology service. Physical environmental barriers and determinants for less beneficial outcomes were identified. Based on the study results suggestions for eligibility criteria and for quality development of e.g. occupational therapy services were provided. As regards methodological aspects of outcomes research, instrument translation and adaptation difficulties were identified. User satisfaction and a new promising construct, mobility-related participation, specifically targeting participation outcomes of mobility device interventions, were explored, requiring further research. Finally, further development of conceptual models for use in assistive technology outcomes research was suggested.