Sherrod Brandon A, Dew Dustin A, Rogers Rebecca, Rimmer James H, Eberhardt Alan W
a School of Medicine , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , Alabama , USA.
b Lakeshore Foundation , Birmingham , Alabama , USA.
Assist Technol. 2017 Summer;29(2):61-67. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2016.1201170. Epub 2016 Jul 22.
Accessible high-capacity weighing scales are scarce in healthcare facilities, in part due to high device cost and weight. This shortage impairs weight monitoring and health maintenance for people with disabilities and/or morbid obesity. We conducted this study to design and validate a lighter, lower cost, high-capacity accessible weighing device. A prototype featuring 360 kg (800 lbs) of weight capacity, a wheelchair-accessible ramp, and wireless data transmission was fabricated. Forty-five participants (20 standing, 20 manual wheelchair users, and five power wheelchair users) were weighed using the prototype and a calibrated scale. Participants were surveyed to assess perception of each weighing device and the weighing procedure. Weight measurements between devices demonstrated a strong linear correlation (R = 0.997) with absolute differences of 1.4 ± 2.0% (mean±SD). Participant preference ratings showed no difference between devices. The prototype weighed 11 kg (38%) less than the next lightest high-capacity commercial device found by author survey. The prototype's estimated commercial price range, $500-$600, is approximately half the price of the least expensive commercial device found by author survey. Such low cost weighing devices may improve access to weighing instrumentation, which may in turn help eliminate current health disparities. Future work is needed to determine the feasibility of market transition.
在医疗保健机构中，可使用的高容量体重秤很稀缺，部分原因是设备成本高且重量大。这种短缺影响了残疾人和/或病态肥胖者的体重监测和健康维护。我们开展这项研究以设计并验证一种更轻便、成本更低的高容量可使用体重秤。制造了一个原型，其承重能力为360千克（800磅），有可供轮椅通行的坡道以及无线数据传输功能。使用该原型和一个经过校准的秤对45名参与者（20名站立者、20名手动轮椅使用者和5名电动轮椅使用者）进行了称重。对参与者进行了调查，以评估他们对每种称重设备及称重过程的看法。两种设备之间的体重测量结果显示出很强的线性相关性（R = 0.997），绝对差异为1.4±2.0%（平均值±标准差）。参与者的偏好评分显示两种设备之间没有差异。该原型的重量比作者调查中发现的第二轻的高容量商用设备轻11千克（38%）。该原型的估计商业价格范围为500 - 600美元，约为作者调查中发现的最便宜商用设备价格的一半。这种低成本的称重设备可能会改善体重测量仪器的可及性，进而有助于消除当前的健康差异。需要开展进一步的工作来确定市场推广的可行性。
