Andre´ Tadeu Sugawara, Milton Seigui Oshiro, Eduardo Inglez Yamanaka, Vini´cius Delgado Ramos and Linamara Rizzo Battistella
Purpose: Describing the development process of a rigid frame wheelchair using user-centered and open innovation approaches, as envisaged by the WHO Wheelchair Guidelines. Methods: Unstructured interviews and group discussions with conveniently sampled active wheelchair users oriented the initial brief, product design and selection. The initially approved prototype was subject to ISO 7176 tests, leading to further product adjustments. The long-term follow-up was inclusive of a new group of purposively selected active wheelchair users and measured user satisfaction and safety, as well as user mobility and wheelchair fitting. Data on user satisfaction, safety and effectiveness was pro- duced using QUEST 2.0 and WHO Wheelchair Service Training Package's forms and checklists in Portuguese. Results: Iterative design and selection led to a prototype that was found appropriate by multiple stake- holders. ISO testing ensured its safety and durability. Follow-up trials included 40 active wheelchair users, who used the studied wheelchair for at least two months. They were 80% male, on average 36.3years old, and had received their rigid frame wheelchair approximately 4.7 years after disability onset. 92.5% of them had SCI, 7.5% had bilateral transfemoral amputations. Users' assessments showed satisfaction with products (4.4) and services (4.1). Users spent an average of 4.2h/day sat in their wheelchairs. 7.5% and 20% of users reported pressure sores and falls, respectively. Conclusion: A user-centered, open innovation approach led to the development of a good quality, affordable, and acceptable rigid frame wheelchair model that increased the range of manual wheelchairs available through the Brazilian public healthcare system. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
order to understand how these devices will be adequately serviced and delivered to users.
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