Jerome, Genevieve M.
(2014)
INDEPENDENT WHEELCHAIR TRANSFERS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: HOW TRANSFER SETUP IMPACTS PERFORMANCE.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Performing the task of transferring oneself from one surface to another is highly essential for wheeled mobility device users in order to accomplish everyday activities such as going to work/school, interacting with friends, and participating in the community. Limited data is available concerning how the built environment impacts independent wheelchair transfer performance. Because of this the United States Access Board and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research sponsored a multi-year research study on independent transfers. The objectives of the second phase of this study were to investigate the relationships between the features of transfer setup with respect to the target surface, vertical transfer height differences, location and characteristics of supports to aid with transferring, and space required for transfers. An international workgroup of experts came together to exchange ideas and information related to independent transfers to help create the study research agenda. Workgroup participant remarks and current ADA standards were used to design a new transfer data collection tool. Two-step transfers were evaluated to answer the question of what should the vertical height difference, seat widths and floor space dimensions be when transferring between two surfaces. Transfer quality was evaluated to determine if there was any effect of handheld presence and the height of the transfers performed.The study found that the 50th percentile of subjects could attain a 20.3cm vertical height difference when making a 90o two-step transfer and a 17.8cm vertical height difference when making an angled transitioned transfer. The 5th and 50th percentile subjects used a width of 45.7cm. Handheld presence did not have a significant impact on performance but it did on quality. Higher quality transfers were found when transferring higher (with grab bars present, p = 0.001) and lower (with the grab bars and the backrest present, p=0.041). Subjects who transferred higher with grab bars and the backrest present on the station had poorer quality transfers (r = -.409; p = .047). The data collected will be used to inform engineers, architects, and designers who design public and private spaces about how to modify the environment to enable the highest degree of independence.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Jerome, Genevieve M. | | | |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
13 January 2014 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
21 November 2013 |
| Approval Date: |
13 January 2014 |
| Submission Date: |
2 December 2013 |
| Access Restriction: |
1 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 1 year. |
| Number of Pages: |
112 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
wheelchair, transfer, quality of life, accessibility, transfers, independent transfers, wheelchair transfers, accessibility standards |
| Date Deposited: |
13 Jan 2014 19:11 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 14:16 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20147 |
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