Presentation at the 2nd International Symposium: ICF Education. 30 June 2017 (Cape Town). http://www.icfeducation.org

1. Identification of environmental factors which influence
wheelchair users’ functioning
insights to Rehabilitation
Anabela Correia Martins &Teresa Alves
IPC ESTeSC Coimbra Health School
Physiotherapy Department, Coimbra, Portugal
Keywords: environmental factors, functioning, wheelchair user
2nd ICF Education Symposium
Cape Town, 30 june 2017

2. Health Condition
Environmental Factors
(e)
Personal Factors
Functions (b)
Structures (s)
Actividades Participação
Activities & Participation (d)
Adapt. ICF (2001)

3. ₪ To facilitate the wheelchair users’ social participation efforts should be
focused at the physical environment, assistive technology, health
promotion, support and relationships, attitudes and in equality health and
social programs.
₪ Independence and participation is crucial [World Health Organization,
2002, 2012, 2015, 2016; Despacho n.º12427/2016; NICE, 2016].

4. Rational
There are several factors that influence independence, facilitate participation,
and enhance overall well-being and QoL of wheelchair users [Sixsmith, 2013; European
Commission, 2007, Satariano et al., 2012; Clarke & Nieuwenhuijsen, 2009].
Purpose
To identify the ICF environmental factors categories that influence the
functioning according to the wheelchair users.

5. Methods
 qualitative study
 Interviews to 16 wheelchair users
 aged 29-60 years old
 living in rural and urban areas in Portugal
 all research procedures were conducted under the Declaration of Helsinki
and approved by i2A LABINSAÚDE - Laboratório de Investigação em
Ciências Aplicadas à Saúde

6. Results
16 interviews
142 answers (lay language)
converted into a unique list
linked to environmental factors ICF categories
separated in facilitators (70) and barriers (72)

7. e115
e120
e130
e135
e140
e150
e155
Results
7
58 e1 products and technology
8 e2 natural environment and human-made changes to environment
16 e3 support and relationships
13 e4 attitudes
47 e5 services, systems and policies

8. e210
e215
e220
e225
Results
4
58 e1 products and technology
8 e2 natural environment and human-made changes to environment
16 e3 support and relationships
13 e4 attitudes
47 e5 services, systems and policies

9. e310
e320
e325
e330
e340
e355
e360
Results
7
58 e1 products and technology
8 e2 natural environment and human-made changes to environment
16 e3 support and relationships
13 e4 attitudes
47 e5 services, systems and policies

10. e410
e415
e420
e425
e430
e435
e440
e445
e450
e455
e460
Results
11
58 e1 products and technology
8 e2 natural environment and human-made changes to environment
16 e3 support and relationships
13 e4 attitudes
47 e5 services, systems and policies

11. e510
e515
e520
e525
e530
e550
e555
e560
Results
8
58 e1 products and technology
8 e2 natural environment and human-made changes to environment
16 e3 support and relationships
13 e4 attitudes
47 e5 services, systems and policies

12.  There is a significant list of factors recognized as
facilitators and barriers by the wheelchair users which
impact positively and negatively on their life routines.
 AT, physical environment, attitudes from others and
policies are the most mentioned factors playing an
important role in social participation.
Key ideas
2nd prize Black & White – Ukhanow, WHO 2004

13. Health Condition
Environmental Factors
(e)
Personal Factors
Functions (b)
Structures (s)
Actividades Participação
Activities & Participation (d)
Adapt. ICF (2001)
Further investigation
Predictive study (ongoing) to improve the understanding of EF relationship
with the domains of social participation and independent living to create
support for Rehabilitation 2030 a Call for Action

14. Thank you
anabelacmartins@estescoimbra.pt