User opinions about connected pressure detection systems to prevent wheelchair-related pressure injuries: an exploratory cross-sectional survey

ABSTRACT

About 1% of the world’s population uses a wheelchair. Wheelchair use is a well-known risk of pressure injury. A connected pressure detection system could help to prevent this complication that is linked to long durations of sitting, provided that user expectations are understood. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of wheelchair users (WU) regarding connected pressure detection systems to prevent pressure injury. A cross-section survey-based study of WU was conducted, using an anonymous electronic questionnaire posted from July 2019 to June 2020. Eighty-eight people responded. The majority were power wheelchair users (72.7%); one third (33.0%) had already sustained a pressure injury; only 17.0% knew of the existence of pressure detection systems, nevertheless 78.4% believed that they could be useful in daily life. The feature that received the highest rating was a pressure warning alarm (4.2/5 points). The majority (71.6%) preferred reminder-alerts to be set according to their habits and not according to medical guidelines. In conclusion, pressure detecting systems were perceived as useful to prevent pressure injuries by both manual and power wheelchair users. Work is needed to inform potential users of the existence of such systems.

KEYWORDS:

• assistive device
• pressure injury
• sitting position
• wheelchairs

Acknowledgements

We thank all those who responded to the survey. We would also like to thank AFM-Téléthon, APF France handicap and the rehabilitation centers who participated in the recruitment of respondents. Thanks to Johanna Robertson for language assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

This survey followed the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.