Outcome Measures for Wheelchair and Seating Provision: A Critical Appraisal

Introduction: Every aspect of the wheelchair and seating provision process has an impact on overall outcomes for service users. This critical appraisal sought to identify outcome measures suitable for evaluation of wheelchair and seating provision, considering activity, participation, and impact of the service delivery on quality of life. Method: Outcome measures were identified using databases: Medline, CINHAL, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar. An evaluation was conducted to establish those that were particularly useful and a critical appraisal was completed. Findings: Five outcome measures identified as relevant for critical appraisal included: Wheelchair Outcome Measure; Functioning Every day in a Wheelchair; Goal Attainment Scale; Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scales; and the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology. The strengths and limitations of each were identified. Conclusion: No single outcome measure captures all necessary information; trade-offs are inevitable. When choosing an outcome measure, the specific goals of the service evaluation and the resources available need to be considered within context. Critical appraisal of five outcome measures deemed appropriate for the evaluation highlighted some areas for consideration to inform decision making. A move towards sustainability indicators is suggested to monitor, measure, and respond to the provision processes and outcomes required to meet this primary need.