title: The power of power wheelchairs: Mobility choices of community-dwelling, older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Power wheelchairs are purported to have a positive effect on health, occupation, and quality of life. However, there is limited knowledge about what factors shape power wheelchair use decisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A study was undertaken to understand the mobility choices of community-dwelling, power wheelchair users.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of semi-structured qualitative interviews was conducted with 13 older adult power wheelchair users. Participants were interviewed at enrollment and four months later. Data analysis was informed by Bourdieu's theoretical constructs of habitus, capital, and field.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main styles of power wheelchair use were identified: reluctant use, strategic use, and essential use, and each type is illustrated using an aggregate case study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the need to alter the power relationship that exists between prescribers and device users and to effect policy changes that enable people with physical impairments to make as wide a range of mobility choices as possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia , Vancouver.
authors.forename: William Bennett
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Mortenson
authors.forename: Karen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hammell
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luts
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soles
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D014910:Wheelchairs
keywords: Bourdieu; Qualitative; accessibility; electric wheelchair; participation; power mobility