Development and consumer validation of the Functional Evaluation in a Wheelchair (FEW) instrument.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study is to develop an outcome measurement tool to investigate functional performance of consumers using seating and wheelchair systems as their primary seating and mobility device. The instrument is undergoing systematic development in three phases. The results of Phase 1 will be reported.


METHODS
Manual and power wheelchair users were interviewed using a modified version of a client-centred outcome measure. An item bank was derived based on the interview data. Subjects were then asked to validate item categories of the new instrument, and finally to self-administer the first version of the instrument.


RESULTS
Subjects reported 154 self-care, productivity, and leisure occupational performance issues related to their current seating-mobility system. Based on their input, 10 categories (i.e. transfers, reach, accessing task surfaces, transportation-portability, human-machine interface, architectural barriers, transportation-accessibility, transportation-securement, natural barriers and accessories) were validated for inclusion in the new outcome measure, Functional Evaluation in a Wheelchair (FEW).


CONCLUSIONS
The items on the FEW focus on the interaction between the consumer, the technology, and the milieu. Consumers viewed the overall importance of FEW categories for seating-mobility system users differently than when they self-administered the FEW.
Mills
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Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. tamst75+@pitt.edu
Holm
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Trefler
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Schmeler
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Fitzgerald
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Boninger
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001107:Architectural Accessibility; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014910:Wheelchairs