Article

PURPOSE: To document perceived impacts in users' daily activities and social
roles (social participation) following the acquisition of a first manual or
powered wheelchair. METHODS: A qualitative design with a phenomenological
approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. An interview guide
was developed based on the 12 social participation categories in the Disability
Creation Process (DCP) conceptual model as themes underlying the questions: 'What
has changed in your daily life since you got your new wheelchair ?' and 'What has
not changed in your daily life that you thought you would do differently with
your new wheelchair?'
RESULTS : The average age of the ten participants was 64.3 years (+/-16.3) and 90% had received a manual wheelchair.
Four main themes emerged from the detailed analysis: changes in daily activities,
expectations not met, impacts on social roles and emotional changes. The
participants considered the changes in daily activities to be generally positive.
Expectations not met mainly related to outdoor mobility.
The participants had not
anticipated the impacts on social roles and emotional changes, which demonstrate
the complexity of human occupation. CONCLUSION: Getting a wheelchair is a major
and complex event in a person's life.

Langue : ANGLAIS