Development of a Web-Based Monitoring System for Power Tilt-in-Space Wheelchairs: Formative Evaluation.
Charles Campeau-Vallerand, François Michaud, François Routhier and 4 others
PMID 31674918WHAT IT FOUND
Five power wheelchair users and five OTs found a new tilt-monitoring prototype easy to use but disliked the intrusive reminder lights and vibration.
They wanted customizable alerts and separate feedback on tilt frequency, angle, and duration rather than a single combined score.
Key findings
01Participants found the physical system discreet and the web interface easy to use, but noted that some interactive functions were unintuitive and required training.
02The vibration and light reminders were viewed as potentially irritating or inappropriate in public settings like work or school, leading to a request for customizable settings.
03Both users and clinicians preferred feedback on tilt goals to be broken down by individual parameters (frequency, angle, duration) rather than presented as a single global score.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only occupational therapists, so findings may not apply to physiotherapists or other professionals who also manage mobility aids. The sample was very small (5 users, 5 clinicians), limiting generalizability. No new power wheelchair users were recruited, despite clinicians identifying them as a key group who might benefit from early intervention. The evaluation was based on simulated scenarios and a prototype, not real-world daily use over time. The conceptual framework used focused more on user experience than clinician workflow, potentially under-reporting clinical barriers.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret participants' stated intention to use the system as evidence that it improves tilt adherence or prevents pressure ulcers. This was a formative evaluation of a prototype's usability, not a clinical trial of its effectiveness.