AWARE

AWARE

Context

Manual and powered wheelchairs are critical mobility devices that support independence, accessibility, and quality of life for millions of individuals with mobility impairments. Given their widespread use, device safety and reliability are essential to minimizing the risk of user injury, adverse health outcomes, and disruptions to daily living. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) collects adverse event reports through systems such as the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database, which contains reports of device-related injuries, malfunctions, deaths, and other safety concerns.

Objective

The objective of this project is to analyze FDA adverse event reports associated with manual and powered wheelchairs to identify common factors contributing to reported safety events. Specifically, the analysis will inform the development a comprehensive understanding of the most common and impactful factors associated with wheelchair-related adverse events, taking a form of a digital platform enabling stakeholders to prioritize interventions that improve wheelchair safety, reliability, and user outcomes.