The participation and activity measurement system: an example application among people who use wheeled mobility devices

Abstract

Purpose: To present the Participation and Activity Measurement System (PAMS), a system designed to examine activity and participation among people who use wheeled mobility devices.

Methods: Description of PAMS' components and an example of its application among people who use tilt-in-space wheelchairs.

Results: PAMS combines objective and subjective descriptions of mobility-based activities within a person's home and community. By applying technologies such as wheel revolution counters, seat occupancy sensors and global positioning systems, PAMS captures diverse metrics of wheelchair use including destinations, wheeled distance, duration of occupancy and the use of specialised features such as tilt. These metrics also provide the basis for a prompted recall interview designed to elicit contextual data about wheelchair use within a person's home and community. A recent study among people who use tilt-in-space wheelchairs demonstrates the components and application of PAMS.

Conclusions: The combination of objective and subjective data afforded by the application of PAMS reflects a complex relationship between wheelchair use and the role of mobility as people go about their daily home and community activities. PAMS can be adapted to a variety of research questions and may be used as an alternative or supplement to self-report assessments of activity and participation.