Stanmore Specialist Wheelchair Service, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, United Kingdom.
Disabil Rehabil. 2012;34(9):770-8. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2011.619620. Epub 2011 Oct 21.
To explore the experience of pain and discomfort in users of electric-powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs) provided by a National Health Service.
EPIOC users receiving their chair between February and November 2002 (N = 74) were invited to participate in a telephone questionnaire/interview and 64 (aged 10-81 years) agreed. Both specific and open-ended questions examined the presence of pain/discomfort, its severity, minimizing and aggravating factors, particularly in relation to the EPIOC and its use.
Most EPIOC users described experiences of pain with 17% reporting severe pain. Over half felt their pain was influenced by the wheelchair and few (25%) considered their chair eased their symptoms. The most common strategy for pain relief was taking medication. Other self-help strategies included changing position, exercise and complementary therapies. Respondents emphasized the provision of backrests, armrests, footrests and cushions which might alleviate or exacerbate pain, highlighting the importance of appropriate assessment for this high dependency group.
Users related pain to their underlying medical condition, their wheelchair or a combination of the two. User feedback is essential to ensure that the EPIOC meets health needs with minimal pain. This becomes more important as the health condition of users changes over time.
探索由国家卫生服务机构提供的电动室内/室外轮椅（EPIOC）使用者的疼痛和不适体验。
2002 年 2 月至 11 月期间接受轮椅的 EPIOC 用户（N=74）受邀参加电话问卷调查/访谈，其中 64 人（年龄 10-81 岁）同意参与。具体和开放式问题都考察了疼痛/不适的存在、其严重程度、最小化和加重因素，特别是与 EPIOC 及其使用相关的因素。
大多数 EPIOC 用户描述了疼痛体验，其中 17%报告了严重疼痛。超过一半的人认为他们的疼痛受到轮椅的影响，很少（25%）认为他们的椅子缓解了他们的症状。缓解疼痛最常见的策略是服用药物。其他自助策略包括改变姿势、锻炼和补充疗法。受访者强调了靠背、扶手、脚凳和坐垫的提供，这些可能会减轻或加重疼痛，突出了为这个高度依赖群体进行适当评估的重要性。
使用者将疼痛与他们的潜在疾病状况、轮椅或两者结合起来。用户反馈对于确保 EPIOC 在最小化疼痛的情况下满足健康需求至关重要。随着使用者的健康状况随时间的推移而变化，这一点变得更加重要。
