Liu, Hsin-yi
(2014)
DEVELOPMENT OF A CUSTOMIZED ELECTRONIC REMINDER TO FACILITATE POWERED SEATING FUNCTION USAGE AND COMPLIANCE WITH CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: DESIGN PROCESS AND CLINICAL EFFICACY.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Compliance with clinical guidance on powered seating function (PSF) usage is very low among individuals who use electric powered wheelchairs (EPWs), leading to high risks for secondary complications, with potentially devastating health consequences, and drastically reduced quality of life. The purposes of this research project were to 1) develop a pervasive and persuasive reminder system, Virtual Seating Coach (VSC), to facilitate appropriate use of PSFs for health management following clinical recommendations; and 2) evaluate the efficacy of VSC on facilitating PSF usage and improving compliance with clinical recommendations.
Survey studies, in-lab tests, and a pilot test study were conducted to ensure that users' feedback was incorporated in the development of the VSC. The research team gradually improved and refined the VSC in the development process. A randomized group study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the VSC. Participants used study EPWs equipped with the VSC for 8 weeks, including 2 weeks of baseline data collection and 6 weeks of intervention by receiving an educational program or the VSC in conjunction with the educational program. The educational program included providing educational materials in video, pamphlet, and flash cards formats, and recurrent meetings with a clinician once every two weeks to discuss PSF usage.
Twenty six individuals participated in the study, and sixteen of them completed the study protocol. The study results showed that the intervention of the VSC in conjunction with the educational program increased the compliance rate around 40%, while the intervention of the educational program alone increased the compliance rate around 18% compared to the baseline period. Providing timely cues, accessible instructions and feedback were critical to facilitate a desired health behavior.
Participants had large variability in the directions and strength of correlations between PSF usage and measures of quality of life (QoL). Gender, experience in EPW and PSF usage, and ambulatory ability may affect the relationships between PSF usage and QoL. More studies are needed to determine how to interpret the measures of QoL as outcome measurements for the effect of PSF usage.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
13 January 2014 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
18 November 2013 |
| Approval Date: |
13 January 2014 |
| Submission Date: |
4 December 2013 |
| Access Restriction: |
5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
222 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Powered wheelchair, Powered seating functions, Reposition, Compliance, Seating discomfort, satisfaction, independence |
| Date Deposited: |
13 Jan 2015 06:00 |
| Last Modified: |
22 Apr 2024 18:54 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20265 |
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