Article

This article evaluates six mobility-related device classifications for their
ability to support assistive technology outcomes research.
Our evaluation
considered classifications that had been created for various purposes, including
those created to support third-party reimbursement decisions, consumer education
and safety, and research. Classifications were excluded if their scope was
limited to a single mobility device domain. The six classifications were analyzed
according to a common framework: (1) purpose, (2) completeness, (3) granularity,
and (4) research applications. Although each classification addresses three
principal mobility device domains (ambulation aids, manual wheelchairs, and
powered mobility devices), the analysis revealed a range of detail with which
each domain is described. Some classifications were hampered by their use of
unclear idiosyncratic terminology, whereas others conflated multiple device
features within device categories. The analysis suggests that existing
classifications do not fully meet the needs of assistive technology outcomes
researchers. Creation of a common taxonomy of mobility devices is needed to serve
the needs of the assistive technology outcomes research field.

Langue : ANGLAIS