Adoption and Use of Customized Wheelchairs Manufactured for Persons Living with Disability: Modified UTUAT-2 Perspective

Abstract

The mobility and independence of people with disabilities could be significantly improved by wheelchairs. Wheelchair adoption is a complex process that is influenced by various factors, including personal demands, social dynamics, and technological advancements. To effectively promote wheelchair adoption and enhance the quality of life for people with mobility issues, it is crucial to understand the adoption of wheelchairs from a holistic perspective. A model comprising six hypotheses was developed based on the UTUAT-2 (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) framework with modifications. The data was analyzed from 330 individuals living with a disability using SPSS and Smart PLS. The study revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, habit, social influence, and perceived infrastructure individually influence the intention to use wheelchairs. The results further revealed that price value and facilitating conditions were not significant predictors of intention to use a wheelchair. The results also showed that aesthetic design moderates the effect of effort expectancy, habit, social influence, price value, and perceived infrastructure on behavioral intention. Through a multidimensional lens, the paper offers practical recommendations to improve the adoption of wheelchairs for people with mobility impairments.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/designs9010003
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > School of Engineering and Technology > Mechanical, Biomedical & Design
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Aston University (General)
Funding Information: This work is based on research supported by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant No. 97994), the Collaborative Program in Additive Manufacturin
Additional Information: Copyright © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Publication ISSN: 2411-9660
Data Access Statement: The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings can be shared on request.
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2025 08:11
Date Deposited: 16 Jan 2025 11:25
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: https://www.mdp ... 2411-9660/9/1/3 (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2024-12-30
Published Online Date: 2024-12-30
Accepted Date: 2024-12-25
Authors: Dzogbewu, Thywill Cephas
Whitehead, Timothy (ORCID Profile 0000-0001-8751-1484)
de Beer, Deon Johan
Torrens, George

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