Electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs: recipients' views of their effects on occupational performance and quality of life

摘要

Demand for National Health Service (NHS)-funded electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs) persistently outstrips supply. The provision criteria require recipients to be able to benefit 'through easier/increased mobility, leading to improved quality of life' (NHS Guidelines 1996, p3). Recipients' views on the latter remain largely unknown, however, generating the impetus for this study. A convenience sample of 20 patients from one NHS wheelchair service participated. Their perceived occupational performance and satisfaction were rated before and 4-12 weeks after EPIOC provision, using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Six participants also gave post-provision interviews, exploring their perceived quality of life over this period. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to investigate the resulting data.