Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of power wheelchair (PWC) repairs and
consequences experienced over a 6-month period by individuals with spinal cord
injury (SCI) who use a PWC >/=40h/wk, based on manufacturer, seating functions,
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) group, and model, and over
time. DESIGN: Convenience observational sample survey. SETTING: Spinal Cord
Injury Model System centers. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with SCI (N=945) who use a
PWC >/=40h/wk. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of
required wheelchair repairs and resulting consequences (ie, being stranded,
missing work/school, or missing a medical appointment). RESULTS: Rates of
required repairs (47.6%-63.3%) and consequences (26.7%-40.7%) were high across
manufacturers. Differences between manufacturers were found among PWCs without
seating functions (P<.001-.008) and among group 2 wheelchairs (P=.007). Across
the 10 most prescribed wheelchairs in this study, 54.5% to 73.9% of users
required 1 or more repairs over a 6-month period. Increases in the number of
repairs were also found for several PWC manufacturers with time. Differences were
found in participant age, working status, years since injury, and presence of
seating functions between manufacturers. CONCLUSIONS: The differences found in
the number of repairs reported by survey respondents based on PWC manufacturer
and the increases in repairs over time require further evaluation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS