Wheelchair seating aids: How satisfied are consumers?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate user satisfaction with wheelchair seating aids. A modified version of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfac tion with assistive Technology (QUEST) was used to assess satisfaction of 2 4 subjects who owned a modular-type seating device integrated in a powered wheelchair. The results of this QUEST-based approach revealed that the vari able comfort was identified as the most important consumer criterion yet it was evaluated as the least satisfying. There were statistically significan t (p < 0.05) gender differences in the degree of importance and the degree of satisfaction scored on several variables as well as significant differen ces between subjects living at home and subjects living in institutions. Th e results support the value of consumer opinion and challenge the assumptio ns of assistive technology professionals. This study underscores the approp riateness of assessing consumer satisfaction in a systematic and ecological ly valid manner.