Bhatnagar Tim, Ben Mortensen W, Mattie Johanne, Wolff Jamie, Parker Claire, Borisoff Jaimie
IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot. 2017 Jul;2017:1574-1579. doi: 10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009472.
Exoskeleton technology has potential benefits for wheelchair users' health and mobility. However, there are practical barriers to their everyday use as a mobility device. In particular, challenges related to travelling longer distances and transitioning between using a wheelchair and exoskeleton walking may present significant deterrents to regular exoskeleton use. In an effort to remove these barriers, a combined exoskeleton-wheelchair concept ('COMBO') has been proposed, which aims to achieve the benefits of both these mobility technologies. Given the inherent importance of including user-stakeholder opinions when designing an assistive technology solution, a study was undertaken to explore the perspectives of wheelchair users and healthcare professionals on the proposed conceptual design of the COMBO.
An online survey with quantitative and qualitative components was conducted with wheelchair users and healthcare professionals working directly with individuals with mobility impairments. Respondents rated whether they would use or recommend a COMBO for four potential reasons. Nine design features were rated and compared in terms of their importance. Content analysis was used to analyze data from an open-ended question regarding additional perceptions about using or recommending a COMBO.
A total of 481 survey responses were analyzed, 354 from wheelchair users and 127 from healthcare professionals. Potential health benefits was the most highly rated reason for potential use or recommendation of a COMBO. Of the 9 design features, 2 had a median rating of very important: inclusion of a fall-protection mechanism, and the ability for the operator to use their hands while standing. Qualitative findings indicated that health and physical benefits, use for daily life activities, and psychosocial benefits were important considerations in whether to use or recommend the COMBO.
This study captures the opinions and perspectives of two stakeholder groups for an exoskeleton-wheelchair hybrid device. It also emphasizes the importance of fall-protection, hand-use capabilities and enabling functional activities. Findings from this study can be utilized to provide insight for the refinement of the COMBO concept, as well as to guide more general mobility device research and development.
外骨骼技术对轮椅使用者的健康和行动能力具有潜在益处。然而，将其作为一种移动设备用于日常使用存在实际障碍。特别是，与长距离出行以及在轮椅使用和外骨骼行走之间转换相关的挑战，可能会对常规使用外骨骼构成重大阻碍。为了消除这些障碍，人们提出了一种外骨骼 - 轮椅组合概念（“COMBO”），旨在实现这两种移动技术的优势。鉴于在设计辅助技术解决方案时纳入用户利益相关者意见的内在重要性，开展了一项研究，以探讨轮椅使用者和医疗保健专业人员对COMBO概念设计的看法。
对直接与行动障碍者合作的轮椅使用者和医疗保健专业人员进行了一项包含定量和定性部分的在线调查。受访者针对四个潜在原因对他们是否会使用或推荐COMBO进行评分。对九个设计特征的重要性进行了评分和比较。采用内容分析法分析了一个关于使用或推荐COMBO的其他看法的开放式问题的数据。
共分析了481份调查问卷回复，其中354份来自轮椅使用者，127份来自医疗保健专业人员。潜在的健康益处是COMBO潜在使用或推荐的最高评分原因。在九个设计特征中，有两个的中位数评分为非常重要：包含防跌倒机制以及操作员站立时能够使用双手。定性研究结果表明，健康和身体益处、用于日常生活活动以及心理社会益处是决定是否使用或推荐COMBO的重要考虑因素。
本研究收集了两个利益相关者群体对一种外骨骼 - 轮椅混合设备的意见和看法。它还强调了防跌倒、手部使用能力和实现功能活动的重要性。本研究的结果可用于为完善COMBO概念提供见解，并指导更一般的移动设备研发。
