Comprehensive Needs Assessment Study and Deployment of QFD Targeted at New Wheelchair Design

Abstract

Objectives: Extensive use of wheelchair increases caregiver dependency, risk of bedsores, risk of injury during transfer, and so on, and it effectively decreases quality of life, safety, and comfort of the people with disability. Therefore, improving the design of wheelchairs is highly essential in promoting the quality of life and level of participation among people with disability. The design of wheelchair for users of a developed country might be inadequate in comparison to a developing country such as India because the users' needs and driving conditions are completely different. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to understand the perspective of Indian wheelchair users through comprehensive needs assessment study and to recognize the primary design parameters and to prioritize them for evidence-based design solution.Methods: A preliminary analysis was conducted through direct surveillance of wheelchairs (manual and electric) and deliberations with the healthcare professionals. Observations of this analysis were used to guide the design of the research questionnaire and interview guide. Comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data related to the design of the wheelchair were provided by a sample of 115 wheelchair users. The assessment of needs and expectations was performed by using the framework approach and with SPSS tool. Then, the data were further analyzed using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) design through House of Quality (HoQ) tool to recognize and prioritize design parameters for evidence-based design targeted at enhancement of quality of life of people with disability.Results: Four key themes emerged: 1. Difficulties in transfer from wheelchair to and from bed; 2. Difficulty to stand from seating position; 3. Problems in using commode; and 4. Risk of bedsores due to extensive use of wheelchair. Furthermore, QFD-based analysis revealed that out of 11 design parameters recommended by cross-functional team based on needs assessment study the following parameters received the highest technical importance: 1. Sit to stand transfer feature (13.90%); 2. Bedsore prevention feature (12.60%); 3. Sit to sleep transfer feature (12.00%); and 4. Adjustable backrest with multi-posture adjustment feature (11.20%). Discussion:The results of this study are useful in understanding the perspective of Indian wheelchair users' needs toward evidence-based wheelchair design. The design parameters with high absolute and relative technical importance can be selected to design new wheelchairs for Indian users in order to enhance the quality of life, comfort, and safety of people with disability.

Smart Wheelchair as Assistive Technology Solution for Wheelchair Users from India

“…These individuals often lack independent mobility and depend on a helping person to push them in a manual wheelchair. To accommodate this population, several researchers have used technologies originally developed for mobile robots to create smart wheelchairs [5,6]. A smart wheelchair typically consists of either a standard power wheelchair to which a computer and a set of sensors are added or a mobile robot base to which a seat is attached.…”

TRIZ and AHP in Early Design Stage of a Novel Reconfigurable Wheelchair

“…Due to prolonged seated posture with being inactive in wheelchair, these subjects are exposed to many physical and psychological health problems e.g., fatigue, pain in the hip joint, bedsores, etc. Comprehensive needs assessment study of wheelchair users [3] reported several common problems such as (1) difficulties in transfer from a wheelchair to and from bed (2) problems to stand from seating position (3) problems in using commode without help and (4) risk of pressure sores due to extensive use of a wheelchair. Aforementioned issues can be resolved by designing and developing a reconfigurable wheelchair, so that it can meet practical demands of the extensive wheelchair users.…”

“…Comprehensive needs assessment study of extensive wheelchair users [3] reported several common problems such as (1) difficulties in transfer from a wheelchair to and from bed (2) difficulties in stand from seating position (3) difficulties using commode without caregiver support and (4) risk of pressure sores due to extensive use of a wheelchair. A wheelchair with back seat adjustment can assist extensive wheelchair users in health preservation, balancing, trunk positioning, etc [4].…”