User experiences, unmet needs, and access barriers to lower limb orthoses in India

PURPOSE: Assistive products can enhance the social functioning of an individual with disability and could offer support for meaningful engagement in society. The research paper focuses on users' perspective to identify ease and comfortability of use of assistive products which enhances mobility. Improved mobility is an important tool to enable people with disabilities' integration into society and in the working environment. The study focused particularly on use of lower limb orthoses (commonly referred to locally as walking callipers) by people with locomotor disabilities having functional limitations in the lower limbs. METHOD: An exploratory qualitative approach was employed that included semi-structured interviews with people who use callipers to explore their usage, unmet needs and barriers to accessing callipers. RESULT: Findings indicated the interplay of economical, availability, repair and maintenance, awareness, accessibility, and psychological factors that either inhibit or increase the access to assistive products. CONCLUSION: Further the understanding of the user's need and context (environment) are critical to designing callipers. The findings also suggest recommendations for disability social work and improving access to assistive products for people with locomotor disabilities.