SWADAPT1: assessment of an electric wheelchair-driving robotic module in standardized circuits: a prospective, controlled repeated measure design pilot study.
Emilie Leblong, Bastien Fraudet, Louise Devigne and 4 others
PMID 34530839WHAT IT FOUND
A robotic wheelchair module reduced collisions in expert users on difficult circuits but significantly slowed them down.
It did not change cognitive load or satisfaction. These findings apply to skilled drivers, not the patients with driving difficulties who need such assistance.
Key findings
01On the most difficult circuit, the assistance module significantly reduced the number of collisions compared to driving without it.
02The assistance module significantly increased the time taken to complete the circuits, meaning users drove slower with the help system active.
03There was no significant difference in cognitive load, driving performance scores, or user satisfaction between the assisted and unassisted conditions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study recruited only 'expert' wheelchair users who had no known driving difficulties, so the results do not tell us how the system performs in the target population of patients who struggle to drive safely. The sample size was small (23 participants), limiting the generalizability of the findings. The driving tests were conducted on standardized circuits, not in real-world daily life scenarios, which may not fully capture the complexity of everyday navigation. The assistance module was only tested on one specific wheelchair model (Quickie SALSA M2) with a specific sensor configuration.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Interreg European ADAPT project.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this module helps patients who currently cannot use a power wheelchair due to driving difficulties. The study only tested expert users who already drove safely, so the benefit for unskilled drivers is unknown.