title: Power Wheelchair Use in Persons With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Changes Over Time.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to survey persons with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at 1 and 6 months after receiving power wheelchairs to determine long-term use, comfort, and function as well as the power wheelchair's impact on daily tasks and quality of life. A 33-question survey and Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) were sent 1 month after getting a new power wheelchair; a follow-up survey was sent at 6 months. Based on satisfaction and feature use survey results, at 1 month, 81% of users found the power wheelchair overall comfort to be high, 88% found their overall mobility to be improved, and 95% found it easy to use. Their quality of life increased and pain decreased at 1 and 6 months. According to the PIADS, the power wheelchair gave users increased ability to participate and sense of competence. This study has important results for the ALS community, as it is the first to assess power wheelchair users at 1 and 6 months after power wheelchair procurement. The results demonstrate the impact the power wheelchair has on mobility, psychosocial issues, functional abilities, and quality of life for a person with ALS.
authors.affiliation: a Neurology Department , Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Amber Lea
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: b Occupational Therapy Department , University of North Carolina Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: a Neurology Department , Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holsten
authors.affiliation: a Neurology Department , Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bravver
authors.affiliation: a Neurology Department , Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin Rix
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; activities of daily living; quality of life; wheelchairs