ABSTRACT:

Wheelchair-related injuries result as a combination of inappropriate prescription/training, inadequate wheelchair maintenance and wheelchair disrepair. Improperly functioning wheelchairs can limit mobility of users and jeopardize their safety. The objective of this study was to develop a Wheelchair Assessment Checklist and to determine its psychometric properties. Twelve assistive technology specialists with expertise in wheeled mobility technology rated two manual wheelchairs independently using the checklist to identify repairs and maintenance issues. Internal consistency and Inter-rater reliability of the checklist was determined using Cronbach’s alpha and Intraclass correlation coefficient respectively. Results suggest a very high internal consistency for both wheelchairs (wheelchair 1: α=.94, wheelchair 2: α=.96) and a moderate Inter-rater reliability (wheelchair 1: ICC=.58, wheelchair 2: ICC=.66). Differences in wheelchairs’ rating were also observed among raters. Further standardization of the checklist is needed to establish it as a reliable and valid risk assessment and safety inspection tool for improving safety of wheelchair users.