title: Predictors of mobility among wheelchair using residents in long-term care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify predictors of mobility among long-term care residents who use wheelchairs as their main means of mobility. Based on the Matching Person to Technology Model, we hypothesized that wheelchair-related, personal, and environmental factors would be independent predictors of mobility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven long-term residential care facilities in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residents (N=268): self-responding residents (n=149) and residents who required proxy respondents (n=119).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mobility was measured using the Nursing Home Life-Space Diameter. Standardized measures of personal, wheelchair-related, and environmental factors were administered and sociodemographic data were collected as independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent mobility decreased as the distance from the resident's room increased: 63% of participants were independently mobile on their units, 40% were independently mobile off their units within the facilities, and 20% were independently mobile outdoors. For the total sample, the significant predictors of mobility, in descending order of importance, were: wheelchair skills (including the capacity to engage brakes and maneuver), functional independence in activities of daily living, having 4 or more visits per week from friends or family, and use of a power wheelchair. This regression model accounted for 48% of variance in mobility scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited independent mobility is a common problem among facility residents. Residents may benefit from interventions such as wheelchair skills training or provision of powered mobility, but the effectiveness of these interventions needs to be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada. bmortens@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: W Ben
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Mortenson
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Backman
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oliffe
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001955:British Columbia; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014910:Wheelchairs