Evaluation of environmental factors affecting the quality of life of wheelchair users

The aim of the study is to investigate the environmental factors affecting life quality of individuals who use wheel chairs. A total of 36wheelchair users (24 men, 12 women), all of which work and live in Şanlıurfa, with an average of 34.75 ±10.1 years, voluntarily participated in the study. In the study were used a personal information form (22 items) and Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (25 items) to determine the environmental factors that affect quality of life. As a result, total score in the inventory was found as 3.41±1.27. Environmental factors that reduce the quality of life and hinder wheelchair users in terms of frequency are transportation (4.69±1.7) and government policies (4.64±1.8). The environmental factors affecting the life quality of wheelchair users the least are the attitude of individuals at home (25.2 ± 2.2) and help at home (2.33±2.0). With respect to the sub-tests; political obstacles (government policies, educational–vocational policies, business policies and community services) (4.02±1.5) and physical/structural barriers (home design, job design, community design, natural environment, the environment and technology) (3,49±1.2) were found to inhibit participation in society and reduce the quality of life while obstacles with regard to attitude and support (house members' attitudes, attitudes of the individuals in the society, community support, home support, and discrimination) (3.20±1.16) and obstacles related to the services and assistance (transportation, briefing, education and health services, equipment, help at home and community assistance) (3.34±1.3) have been found as factors which have less influence on the quality of life of individuals who use wheelchairs when compared to other environmental factors. Consequently, the disabled people, wheelchair users, living in the city of Şanlıurfa have problems which mainly stem from environmental factors in city center. These problems encountered negatively affect the quality of life of individuals with disabilities. Disabled individuals state that they have most problems mainly related to the government policies. The environmental planning which takes Wheelchair users living in the city of Şanlıurfa into account will positively affect the quality of life of individuals with disabilities. Keywords: Quality of life, Wheelchair, Environmental Factors, Individuals with Disabilities