Abstract
Assistive products outcomes are needed globally to inform policy, practice, and drive investment. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals developed a Minimum Uniform Dataset (MUD) for wheelchair services worldwide with the intent to gather data that is comparable globally. The MUD was developed with the participation of members from around the globe and its feasibility piloted at 3 sites. Three versions of the MUD are now available-a short form with 29 data points (available in English, Spanish, and French) and a standard version with 38 data points in English. Future work is to validate and complete the translation cycles followed by promoting the use of the MUD globally so that the data can be leveraged to inform policy, practice and direct investments.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Data Collection / standards*
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Disabled Persons / rehabilitation*
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Humans
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International Agencies
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Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*
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Task Performance and Analysis*
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Translating
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Wheelchairs / standards*
Grants and funding
This research was made possible by the generous support of the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) and the University of Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh scientists are working with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under sub-awards to develop the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals, a global network to ensure a level of standardization, certification and oversight, to teach and professionalize wheelchair services, and to build affiliations to put better equipment in the right hands. Since 2002, USAID has granted more than $45 million to improve wheelchairs and wheelchair services worldwide. The sub-awards are: Agreement No. APC-GM-0068 and Agreement No. APC-GM-0107, presented by Advancing Partners & Communities, a cooperative agreement funded through USAID under Agreement No. AIDOAA-A-12-00047, beginning Oct. 1, 2012; and FY19-A01-6024, presented through University Research Co. LLC Health Evaluation and Applied Research Development (HEARD) Project. HEARD is funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under cooperative agreement number AID-OAA-A-17-00002. The project team includes prime recipient, University Research Co., LLC (URC) and sub-recipient organizations. The contents of the findings of this study are the sole responsibility of Advancing Partners & Communities, University Research Co., LLC and the University of Pittsburgh and do not necessarily reflect the view of USAID or the United States Government. Jonathan Pearlman (JP) is the recipient of the above-mentioned awards. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors NA, JP, MG, KK, MLTH, RS, MD, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. PK participated as a volunteer and not as part of her role with SMOI.