Independent Wheelchair Transfers in the Built Environment: How Transfer Setup Impacts Performance Phase 2: Final Report

Grab Bar and Backrest Evaluation

Grab bar and backrest preferences were reported in this study with the tall grab bar and the short backrest being selected more often than the short grab bars and medium and tall backrests. The grab bars were frequently used as handhelds during the transfer process and for one person it made the difference of being able to do a non-level transfer to the platform. The analysis also revealed that the presence of grab bars helped participants to transfer higher and lower than their mobility device seats. Grab bars should be placed everywhere persons would encounter a non-level transfer. This would allow persons with disabilities to make non-level transfers more easily and safely. The backrest was used as a handheld less frequently and more often when participants were transferring lower versus higher. The backrest may have helped to provide a sense of security, comfort or support for participants when seated on the platform but it did not appear to be as useful as the grab bars were for assisting with the transfer. One possible explanation for this is that unlike the phase 1 study, participants were able to transfer from the front of the station as well as from the side of the station. In the situation where a participant transferred from the front, they may not have needed the backrest or the backrest may not have been within reach.

Secondary data analyses were performed to compare phase 1 and phase 2 results. A comparison of participant demographics and transfer performances between the two phases can be found in Addendum D [Note that Addendum D was a preliminary analysis that was done before completion of the phase 2 study and thus contain a subset of the total numbers of participants tested]. Also, a comparative analysis was done to investigate differences between the veteran population that was tested at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and the population that was tested at the Human Engineering Research Laboratory. This analysis was performed using data from phase 2 and the results are included in Addendum E [Note that Addendum E was a preliminary analysis that was done before completion of the phase 2 study and thus contain a subset of the total numbers of participants tested]. Lastly, a comparative analysis looking at the difference in transfer abilities between men and women can be seen in Addendum G.