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Relationship between wheelchair durability and wheelchair type and years of test

Wang, H and Liu, HY and Pearlman, J and Cooper, R and Jefferds, A and Connor, S and Cooper, RA (2010) Relationship between wheelchair durability and wheelchair type and years of test. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 5 (5). 318 - 322. ISSN 1748-3107

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Abstract

Objective. To investigate the relationship between the durability of wheelchairs according to American National Standard for Wheechairs/ Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) Wheelchair Standards and wheelchair type as well as year of test. Design. A retrospective study design with a sample of 246 wheelchairs that were tested in accordance with the ANSI/RESNA standards from 1992 to 2008 including four types of wheelchairs: manual wheelchair (MWC), electrical powered wheelchair (EPW), scooters and pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW). Unconditional binary logic regression analysis was chosen to evaluate the relationship between test results and test year as well as wheelchair type. Setting. Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center. Main Outcome Measures:Wheelchair durability test result (fatigue test: pass or fail) Results. There was no significant correlation between the year when tested and equivalent cycles. A significant relation was found between test results and wheelchair type (Wald score=10.845, degree of freedom=3, p=0.013) with scooters having a significantly higher pass ratio than MWC (OR=15.629, 95% CI=2.026-120.579). EPW also had significantly higher pass ratio than MWC (OR=1.953, 95% CI=1.049-3.636). No significant difference on pass ratio was found between PAPAW and MWC. Conclusions. No significant improvements in wheelchair test results during the time frame from 1992 to 2008 were discovered. Wheelchair standard tests should be conducted to assure minimum quality of the wheelchairs and for improving the design of wheelchairs. Although the ANSI/RESNA wheelchair durability test procedures have remained consistent, it does not appear that the introduction of new materials, designs and the availability of test data have improved wheelchair fatigue life. © 2010 Informa UK Ltd.

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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Wang, Hhow11@pitt.eduHOW11
Liu, HY
Pearlman, Jjpearlman@pitt.eduJLP46
Cooper, Rcooperrm@pitt.eduCOOPERRM
Jefferds, A
Connor, S
Cooper, RARCOOPER@pitt.eduRCOOPER
Centers: Other Centers, Institutes, Offices, or Units > Human Engineering Research Laboratories
Date: 1 September 2010
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
Volume: 5
Number: 5
Page Range: 318 - 322
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.3109/17483100903391137
Schools and Programs: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 1748-3107
MeSH Headings: Confidence Intervals; Databases, Factual; Equipment Design; Humans; Logistic Models; Mobility Limitation; Odds Ratio; Retrospective Studies; Statistics as Topic; Time Factors; Wheelchairs
PubMed ID: 20131972
Date Deposited: 05 Oct 2012 16:08
Last Modified: 10 Mar 2021 06:19
URI: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15652

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