Survey of the use of transport by recipients of a regional Electric Indoor/Outdoor Powered (EPIOC) wheelchair service

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the extent to which Electric Indoor/Outdoor Powered wheelchair (EPIOC) users travel in vehicles, their concerns about safety, any accidents occurring during transportation and difficulties with their equipment.

Method: All 268 EPIOC users on the departmental database were sent a purpose-designed postal questionnaire asking whether the respondent:--used the chair during transportation and in what type of vehicle; understood clamping processes; had a 'mishap' or an 'accident'; felt safe during transportation and wished to comment. Replies from two mailings resulted in 203 usable replies (76%). Responses and comments were entered into an Excel database.

Results: Thirty-seven (18%) users did not use any transport. Of the 170 (82%) who did: 51% used Dial-a-Ride, 44% taxis, 41% ambulances, 37% local authority transport, 34% cars and others 17%. Twenty-one (12%) experienced 'mishaps'--8 toppled out of their chairs and 6 reported clamping-related accidents. Headrests were only used by 69 (41%). Thirty-four (19%) of 182 expressing a view about 'feeling safe' felt unsafe sometimes. Wheelchair users often feel vulnerable when being transported by public providers.

Discussion: Risks of vehicular travel by wheelchair users could be reduced with appropriate equipment and regular review of NHS prescriptions, education of users, wheelchair services and transport providers.