title: Clinicians' and Researchers' Perspectives on Manual Wheelchair Data Loggers.
abstract: Recent studies have used data loggers to record a wide range of, sometimes differing, objective outcomes associated with the use of manual wheelchairs. To identify which outcomes are broadly perceived to be the most important to measure when objectively documenting manual wheelchair use, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with groups of researchers and clinicians in the field of wheeled mobility. We also surveyed the challenges these groups experienced when using data loggers. The survey was informed by a previous scoping review of the scientific and gray literature. Seventy-four people with various academic and professional backgrounds completed the survey: 57 researchers (77.0%) and 17 clinicians (23.0%). Regarding the importance they attributed to commonly measured outcomes, the most highly rated outcome identified by both groups was "distance traveled." There were significant differences between the groups' perspectives in rating and ranking the importance of "pressure-relief activities," "seat pressure," and "acceleration." In terms of challenges or barriers associated with the use of data loggers for monitoring manual wheelchair use, it appears that researchers and clinicians have relatively similar needs and preferences. However, only clinicians reported that the time they wanted to, or could, allocate to review recorded information was a potential hardship. Our hope is that these results will help further development and increase the functionality and applicability of data loggers for manual wheelchairs in research and clinical contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: Francois.Routhier@rea.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Routhier
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lettre
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Program and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Rehabilitation Engineering Design Laboratory, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Jaimie F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Borisoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Program and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keetch
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000523:psychology*; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Data logging; Manual wheelchair; Rehabilitation; Surveys and questionnaires