title: Intelligent power wheelchair use in long-term care: potential users' experiences and perceptions.
abstract: Long-term care (LTC) residents with cognitive impairments frequently experience limited mobility and participation in preferred activities. Although a power wheelchair could mitigate some of these mobility and participation challenges, this technology is often not prescribed for this population due to safety concerns. An intelligent power wheelchair (IPW) system represents a potential intervention that could help to overcome these concerns. The purpose of this study was to explore a) how residents experienced an IPW that used three different modes of control and b) what perceived effect the IPW would have on their daily lives.
  
  
  
  We interviewed 10 LTC residents with mild or moderate cognitive impairment twice, once before and once after testing the IPW. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic analyses.
  
  
  
  Our analyses identified three overarching themes: (1) the difference an IPW would make, (2) the potential impact of the IPW on others and (3) IPW-related concerns.
  
  
  
  Findings from this study confirm the need for and potential benefits of IPW use in LTC. Future studies will involve testing IPW improvements based on feedback and insights from this study. Implications for rehabilitation Intelligent power wheelchairs may enhance participation and improve safety and feelings of well-being for long-term care residents with cognitive impairments. Intelligent power wheelchairs could potentially have an equally positive impact on facility staff, other residents, and family and friends by decreasing workload and increasing safety.
authors.affiliation: a School of Rehabilitation , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Québec , Canada.|b CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center , Montréal , Québec , Canada.
authors.forename: Paula W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Rushton
authors.affiliation: c Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.|d International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.|e Rehabilitation Research Program, GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Lab , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: Ben W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mortenson
authors.affiliation: f Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Lab, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.|g Toronto Rehabilitation Institute , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.affiliation: f Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Lab, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.|g Toronto Rehabilitation Institute , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Rosalie H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: c Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.|d International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.|e Rehabilitation Research Program, GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Lab , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.|h Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: h Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.|i School of Kinesiology , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hurd Clarke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012449:Safety; D058992:Social Participation; D014910:Wheelchairs
keywords: Power wheelchair; cognitive impairment; intelligent power wheelchair; interview; long-term care; older adult; qualitative methods