Shore Susan L
Department of Physical Therapy, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA 91702, USA.
Med Sci Monit. 2008 Dec;14(12):PH71-9.
The overall impact of a wheelchair on its user must be evaluated in light of both benefit and risk. Evaluation should include not only physical function, but also overall quality of life, integration into society, and cost effectiveness. The current study examined the impact of a donated, inexpensively made wheelchair on recipients in 2 different countries.
MATERIAL/METHODS: 188 recipients of the Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) wheelchair in India and Peru were surveyed in their local setting and language by social workers. Results were entered and transferred electronically for analysis.
At the time of the survey, the wheelchairs had been in use for an average of 18 months. 93.1% of recipients used their wheelchair more than 1 hour/day. Receipt and use of the FWM chair resulted in a significant shift toward independent function in 5 of 6 areas drawn from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The greatest maintenance problem was with the tires (19.7%), similar in frequency to reported U.S. users. There was an unexpected 11.7% decrease in the incidence of pressure ulcers with use of the wheelchair, most likely associated with increased mobility. Reported pain levels were not believed by participants to be related to use of the wheelchair. The impact on health and quality of life was generally viewed as positive. Monetary cost of the wheelchair is minimal.
In summary, recipient evaluation of the Free Wheelchair Mission wheelchair in 2 different countries has shown a positive, cost-effective benefit to both health and function without unusual risk.
必须根据益处和风险来评估轮椅对使用者的总体影响。评估不仅应包括身体功能，还应包括总体生活质量、融入社会程度和成本效益。本研究调查了捐赠的、制作成本低廉的轮椅对两个不同国家的接受者的影响。
材料/方法：社会工作者在印度和秘鲁以当地语言对188名免费轮椅使命组织（FWM）轮椅的接受者进行了实地调查。结果被录入并通过电子方式传输以供分析。
在调查时，这些轮椅平均已使用18个月。93.1%的接受者每天使用轮椅超过1小时。接受并使用FWM轮椅后，在国际功能、残疾和健康分类的6个领域中的5个领域，使用者向独立功能有了显著转变。最大的维修问题是轮胎（19.7%），与美国使用者报告的频率相似。使用轮椅后，压疮发生率意外下降了11.7%，这很可能与活动能力增强有关。参与者认为报告的疼痛程度与使用轮椅无关。对健康和生活质量的影响总体上被视为是积极的。轮椅的货币成本很低。
总之，对两个不同国家的免费轮椅使命组织轮椅接受者的评估表明，该轮椅对健康和功能具有积极且符合成本效益的益处，且没有异常风险。
