(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012-06)
Hoenig, Helen; Griffiths, Patricia; Ganesh, Shanti; Caves, Kevin; Harris, Frances
Objective—This study examined the accuracy of new wheelchair user predictions about their
future wheelchair use.
Design—Prospective cohort study of 84 community dwelling veterans provided a new manual
wheelchair.
Results—The association between predicted and actual wheelchair use was strong at 3-months
(phi coefficient = .56), with 90% of those who anticipated using the wheelchair at 3-months still
using it (i.e., positive predictive value 0.96) and 60% of those who anticipated not using it indeed no longer using the wheelchair (i.e., negative predictive value 0.60, overall accuracy 0.92).
Predictive Accuracy diminished over time, with overall accuracy declining from 0.92 at 3-months
to 0.66 at 6-months. At all time points, and for all types of use, patients better predicted use as
opposed to disuse, with correspondingly higher positive than negative predictive values. Accuracy
of prediction of usage in specific indoor and outdoor locations varied according to location.
Conclusions—This study demonstrates the importance of better understanding the potential
mismatch between the anticipated and actual patterns of wheelchair use. The findings suggest that users can be relied upon to accurately predict their basic wheelchair-related needs in the short
term. Further exploration is needed to identify characteristics that will aid users and their providers
in more accurately predicting mobility needs for the long-term.
(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.