Powered wheelchair technology has the potential to promote independence, maintain dignity, improve wellbeing, and remove barriers from everyday life (Samuelsson & Wressle, 2014). However, powered wheelchair design, distribution, provision, and prescription exists within a vast and complex network of stakeholders that interact across settings and social contexts. Using psychological theory and methods, this thesis aimed to understand the process of powered wheelchair technology engagement and acceptance across these wider stakeholder groups. This project has three components; a systematic review of factors that affect powered wheelchair use, an autoethnography of a non-disabled researcher using a powered wheelchair, and a constructivist grounded theory of stakeholder experiences of LiNX controls technology acceptance and engagement. The unique combination of methods used in this KESS II sponsored project proposes a narrative of powered wheelchair technology engagement grounded in the context, environment, and culture of the technology user. The factors affecting powered wheelchair technology use at an individual, technical and functional, environmental, and organisational level. If incorporated into the design, prescription, and use of powered wheelchair technology the findings from this thesis could be applied to indicate where change and intervention should be focused.
Exploring the Factors that Affect LiNX Powered Wheelchair Technology Acceptance and Use
Fishleigh, L. (Author). 2023
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis