title: Exploring powered wheelchair users and their caregivers' perspectives on potential intelligent power wheelchair use: a qualitative study.
abstract: Power wheelchairs (PWCs) can have a positive impact on user well-being, self-esteem, pain, activity and participation. Newly developed intelligent power wheelchairs (IPWs), allowing autonomous or collaboratively-controlled navigation, could enhance mobility of individuals not able to use, or having difficulty using, standard PWCs. The objective of this study was to explore the perspectives of PWC users (PWUs) and their caregivers regarding if and how IPWs could impact on current challenges faced by PWUs, as well as inform current development of IPWs. A qualitative exploratory study using individual interviews was conducted with PWUs (n = 12) and caregivers (n = 4). A semi-structured interview guide and video were used to facilitate informed discussion regarding IPWs. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) "challenging situations that may be overcome by an IPW" described how the IPW features of obstacle avoidance, path following, and target following could alleviate PWUs' identified mobility difficulties; (2) "cautious optimism concerning IPW use revealed participants" addresses concerns regarding using an IPW as well as technological suggestions; (3) "defining the potential IPW user" revealed characteristics of PWUs that would benefit from IPW use. Findings indicate how IPW use may help overcome PWC difficulties and confirm the importance of user input in the ongoing development of IPWs.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. dahlia.kairy@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Dahlia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kairy
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. pstone@videotron.ca.
authors.forename: Paula W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Rushton
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montréal, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada. philippe.archambault@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Archambault
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. evelina.pituch@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pituch
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montréal, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada. caryne.torkia@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Caryne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torkia
authors.affiliation: Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada. anas.el-fathi@polymtl.ca.
authors.forename: Anas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Fathi
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), 4545 Chemin Queen Mary, Montréal, QC H3W 1W4, Canada. pstone@videotron.ca.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada. francois.routhier@rea.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Routhier
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. robert.forget@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forget
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada. pstone@videotron.ca.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demers
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 0E9, Canada. jpineau@cs.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pineau
authors.affiliation: Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada. richard.gourdeau@polymtl.ca.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gourdeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000639:trends*; D055815:Young Adult