Survey of the use of transport by recipients of a regional Electric Indoor/Outdoor Powered (EPIOC) wheelchair service.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which Electric Indoor/Outdoor Powered wheelchair (EPIOC) users travel in vehicles, their concerns about safety, any accidents occurring during transportation and difficulties with their equipment.


METHODS
All 268 EPIOC users on the departmental database were sent a purpose-designed postal questionnaire asking whether the respondent:--used the chair during transportation and in what type of vehicle; understood clamping processes; had a 'mishap' or an 'accident'; felt safe during transportation and wished to comment. Replies from two mailings resulted in 203 usable replies (76%). Responses and comments were entered into an Excel database.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven (18%) users did not use any transport. Of the 170 (82%) who did: 51% used Dial-a-Ride, 44% taxis, 41% ambulances, 37% local authority transport, 34% cars and others 17%. Twenty-one (12%) experienced 'mishaps'--8 toppled out of their chairs and 6 reported clamping-related accidents. Headrests were only used by 69 (41%). Thirty-four (19%) of 182 expressing a view about 'feeling safe' felt unsafe sometimes. Wheelchair users often feel vulnerable when being transported by public providers.


CONCLUSIONS
Risks of vehicular travel by wheelchair users could be reduced with appropriate equipment and regular review of NHS prescriptions, education of users, wheelchair services and transport providers.
Belcher
M J H
MJ
Stanmore Specialist Wheelchair Service, Brockley Hill, UK.
Frank
A O
AO
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000552:Ambulances; D001336:Automobiles; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom; D014910:Wheelchairs