Patterns of Mobility Aid Use Among Working Age Persons With Multiple Sclerosis Living in the Community in the United States
By Iezzoni, Lisa I.; Rao, Sowmya R.; Kinkel, R. Philip; Disability and Health Journal, Vol. 2, pp. 67-76Publication Date: 2009
Study explored the mobility experiences of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) living in U.S. communities and their use of mobility aids. A 30 minute telephone survey was conducted in 2007 with 703 community dwelling working age adults who self-reported having MS. Potential survey respondents were identified using membership lists of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Individuals living in zip codes with relatively high poverty rates were oversampled. All analyses used sampling weights to produce population estimates. Survey questions asked basic information about all mobility aids used by respondents and details about up to two different aids. Among the respondents, 434, or a weighted percent of 79.3, reported using at least one mobility aid; the majority reported using more than one type of aid. Manual wheelchairs were the most common mobility aid, used by 63.4 percent, followed by canes at 56.7 percent, power wheelchairs at 36.7 percent, and scooters at 32.2 percent. Among those using three or more different types of mobility aids, the large majority, or 88.2 percent, used manual wheelchairs, followed by 65.4 percent who used canes. Married persons or those living with partners were much less likely to use powered equipment than those who were never married. Women were much less likely than men to use powered equipment. Based on study results, the authors conclude that the vast majority of persons with MS who use at least one mobility aid own more than one type, and about half own three or more different types of mobility aid. Given restricting health insurance coverage policies for mobility aids, these findings raise questions about how persons acquire and pay for this equipment.
Published by: Elsevier Inc. (Website:http://www.elsevier.com)
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J61159
