title: An interview study for developing a user guide for powered seating function usage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Powered seating functions (PSFs) provide powered wheelchair users an independent means to adjust posture dynamically. To facilitate the best use of PSFs in daily living, we conducted this structured interview study to develop a preliminary user guide to provide "take-home" information to powered wheelchair users.
  
  
  METHODS
  An internally developed questionnaire to assess clinical recommendations of PSF usage was administered in an interview format to clinical seating and mobility specialists. A qualitative analysis was applied to codify the recommendations, and the findings were transformed into a PSF user guide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specific but varied seating positions and temporal indications were recommended for performing pressure relief positioning. For several activities, appropriate seating positions should be determined according to the immediate physical condition of the user and/or the environmental settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methods and positions of using PSFs should be determined with consideration for individual preferences, physical condition, environmental setting, and desired tasks after thorough clinical seating assessments. Precautions about positioning and driving safety, and the importance of discussing with clinicians are emphasized in the user guide. This PSF user guide will be updated after more scientific evidence accumulates and be structurally evaluated for its face and content validity in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, PA , USA and.
authors.forename: Hsin-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rosemarie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Annmarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: Rory A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D057240:Patient Preference; D011187:Posture; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014910:Wheelchairs
keywords: Educational material; legrest elevation; patient education; power wheelchair; recline; seat elevation; tilt; training