(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010-06)
Hoenig, Helen; Griffiths, Patricia; Harris, Frances; Caves, Kevin; Sprigle, Stephen
This study examined
the accuracy of
new wheelchair user predictions about their future
wheelchair use.
We used an existing
database of 71
new manual wheelchair
users with data
obtained at
baseline, 3-‐ and 6-‐months to examine the
specificity, sensitivity,
positive and
negative predictive
value of user
predictions
about anticipated
amount and
locations of
wheelchair use.
At 3-‐months,
the correlation
between predicted
and actual use was
strong, with
90% of those
who thought they
would still be
using the wheelchair
still using it,
and 60% of
those who said
they would not
be using it
indeed were not
using the wheelchair.
By 6-‐months the
predictive utility
diminished substantially.
Only 70%
of subjects
accurately
predicted
their continued
use, while
only 50% correctly
predicted they
would not
be using their
wheelchairs.
This study
demonstrates
the importance
of better
understanding
the potential
mismatch between
the anticipated
and actual patterns
of wheelchairs use.