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South African Journal of Occupational Therapy
On-line version ISSN 2310-3833
Print version ISSN 0038-2337
S. Afr. j. occup. ther. vol.54 n.2 Pretoria Aug. 2024
http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-2338/vol54no2a8
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Appropriateness of the standard manual wheelchair for occupational performance by wheelchair users in the Thulamela Municipality of the Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa
Helga ListerI; Khumbelo NethatheII; Deshini NaidooIII; Pragashnie GovenderIV
IOccupational Therapy Department, University of Pretoria, South Africa. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3299-4188
IIPrivate Occupational Therapy Practitioner, South Africa. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8113-4944
IIIDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal (Westville Campus), South Africa. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6276-221X
IVDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal (Westville Campus), South Africa. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3155-3743
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There was a need to investigate the appropriateness of the standard manual wheelchairfor occupational performance in Thulamela Municipality Vhembe District, Limpopo.
METHODS: An observational cross-sectional descriptive design using simple random sampling was used to select n=60 wheelchair users who were issued with standard manual wheelchairs between 2014 and 2018. The Wheelchair Outcome Measure was used to investigate the participants' level of satisfaction in engagement in ADL and IADL and the suitability of the wheelchair in terms of the user's comfort and satisfaction with positioning and prevention of skin breakdown. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.
RESULTS: The wheelchair users viewed activity participation in the home as important and were generally satisfied with their standard manual wheelchairs while performing occupational activities at home and outside the home. A total of (n=46; 78%) of the participants felt comfortable in their wheelchair.
CONCLUSIONS: Wheelchair prescription should take into consideration the occupational choices of the user. Further qualitative studies to explore the factors that determined the participants' choices for their activity participation goals should be undertaken.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
• Training of new occupational therapy staff in each facility in the Thulamela district to equip them with the skills to prescribe wheelchairs is necessary.
• The level of importance that wheelchair participants attached to level of importance of activity participation inside and outside the home was high therefore there is a need to consider the client's occupational choices when prescribing wheelchairs.
• The wheelchair needs to facilitate participation in a wide range of occupational choices ranging from self-care activities and watching TV in the home to visiting friends and family and attending events outside the home.
Keywords: wheelchair prescription, occupational choices, activity participation, Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WhOM), ADL and ¡ADL, good health and wellbeing
INTRODUCTION
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report on disability, more than a billion people, that is 15% of the world's population, live with some form of disability1. Worldwide, approximately 20 million people do not have access to adequate wheelchairs to maintain mobility and independence, particularly in low-income countries like those in Africa2. The last national census in South Africa estimated the prevalence of disability at 7.5% of the total population in 20113. According to the District Health Information Software (DHIS), the total number of wheelchairs issued during 2019/20 across South Africa was 23 611, with 2 614 wheelchairs issued across the Limpopo province4.
The Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation Services (FSDRS)5 in South Africa identified many challenges relating to the implementation of rehabilitation services in South Africa, including the inadequate provision of appropriate assistive devices (AD) such as wheelchairs and other accessories. The two most important national policies as they relate to this study are the South African National Rehabilitation Policy (NRP)6 and the South African National Guidelines on the Provision of Assistive Devices policy7. The South African National Guidelines on the Provision of Assistive Devices predate both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities6 and the WHO Guidelines on the Provision of Manual Wheelchairs in less resourced settings8.
South Africa ratified and signed the UNCRPD9 in 2007, voluntarily committing itself to act on the articles of the convention. Although this provides evidence of South Africa's commitment to addressing issues facing people with disabilities (PWDs), research shows problems at the service provision level because the said guidelines do not seem to address the needs of PWD in rural settings4,10,11,12. The South African NRP guides general rehabilitation services in South Africa, whilst the South African National Guidelines on Provision of ADs stipulate the essential responsibilities and requirements regarding the provision of ADs in the public health sector in South Africa7. In the public sector in SA wheelchairs are provided as per the RT233-2023 tender available from the National Department of Health. The standard manual wheelchair is defined by the World Health Organisation assistive devices procurement document as a manually operated device with a durable frame, four wheels (includes large rear wheels for self-propulsion) adjustable and detachable armrests and removable and adjustable footrests8. Bateman10 and Visagie et al.13 highlight that there should be consideration of the uneven terrain, lack of paved roads and sidewalks, eroded paths, small houses and narrow doors when prescribing manual wheelchair in rural areas.
This study investigated the appropriateness of the standard manual wheelchair for occupational performance in various occupational and community settings in the Thulamela Municipality of Vhembe District of Limpopo province in South Africa. It was essential to understand wheelchair user needs and the appropriateness of the prescribed wheelchair. The objectives of the study were to (i) compile a demographic profile of the standard wheelchair users in Thulamela Municipality Vhembe District, (ii) assess the level of importance and wheelchair user satisfaction in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) when using the standard manual wheelchairs at home and outside the home; (iii) assess the level of satisfaction of the wheelchair user on their body position when using the standard wheelchair and determine the level of comfort experienced by wheelchair users when using the prescribed standard wheelchairs.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Disability is contextual; the experience of disability differs between various individuals due to the nature of the impairment. People use wheelchairs because of their limitations in mobility. Wheelchair users are people with various musculoskeletal and neurological impairments, lifestyles, life roles and socio-economic status living in different environments, including rural, semi-urban and urban. PWDs represent a wide range of mobility needs, according to the guidelines on the provision of manual wheelchairs in less resourced settings2,11,13.
When selecting a wheelchair, factors to ensure that the wheelchair contributes to the quality of life of the wheelchair user should be considered. The diversity of wheelchair users and the different contexts in which occupations are performed emphasises creates the need for different designs of wheelchairs 2,7,1°. No single wheelchair can meet the needs of all wheelchair users. The function of the wheelchair can be affected by different wheelchair design features, including overall length, wheelbase, frame type, rear wheels and front castors, transportability, and stability versus mobility setting8,10,13.
South Africa has experienced a complex health transition in the past few decades. The Department of Health ensures that the necessary polices are available to guide the various provinces in South Africa. The department of Health in Limpopo is responsible for the rendered provision of ADs, including wheelchairs6,7. According to the FSDRS5, the increase in the burden of disease has necessitate an increased investment in health systems thus the management of people with disability needed to increase at all levels.
The South African national guideline on ADs includes specific protocols on key service steps in the provision of wheelchairs and other ADs, such as hearing aids, spectacles and walking aids7. South Africa ratified and signed the United Nations Convention for Persons with Disability9 (UNCRPD) in 2007, thus voluntarily committing itself to act on the articles of the convention. According to the UNCRPD people with disabilities have a right to appropriate ADs to ensure their full and equal enjoyment of all human rights. The rights of wheelchair users are summarised in article 20 of the UN Convention for Persons with Disability9. The wheelchair user has a right to an appropriate wheelchair; this wheelchair should meet the user's environmental, functional and postural support needs and durability standards, safety and affordability criteria. The WHO wheelchair guidelines state that a wheelchair is appropriate when it meets the user's needs and environmental conditions; provides proper fit and postural support; is safe and durable; is available in the country, and can be obtained, maintained, and serviced in the country at an affordable cost8. All these are factors that occupational therapists should consider when assessing and prescribing wheelchairs for their clients13.
In 2012, Statistics South Africa12 reported that the prevalence of mobility impairment in South Africa is about 1% of the total population. These statistics exclude disabilities in children under the age of five years. Every wheelchair user requires an individual assessment carried out by a person with the appropriate skills. The assessment should be holistic, considering the user's lifestyle, living environment, and physical condition14. The necessary assessment equipment, such as a plinth, measuring tape, and foot blocks, should be readily available15.
The prescription should detail the type and size of the wheelchair, additional components needed, including customised components and the information the client needs to have before leaving the prescribing institution. An estimate of when the wheelchair will be ready should be given to the client10,13. The RT233-2023 tender document governs purchasing of wheelchairs in South Africa; this tender document has a comprehensive range of wheelchair options.
However, financial constraints appear to lead institutions into procuring only one type of wheelchair as the price, rather than the quality, is often the deciding factor when wheelchairs are procured. Budgetary challenges negatively impact the ability of occupational therapists to provide a service per policy and guidelines. According to Visagie et al.13 if only one type of wheelchair is provided, the wheelchair user will not have a choice between different wheelchairs as only one type will be funded. Shore14 study showed that receiving one of the two wheelchair models offered in less-developed16, areas of the world seems to have a positive effect on job opportunities and income which demonstrated the need to offer choice when prescribing wheelchairs.
Several factors can negatively affect wheelchair prescription. This includes funding, the ability to assess the need for and order wheelchairs accurately and the extent of training of occupational therapists during their undergraduate course12,14. This may pose a challenge to the occupational therapists offering wheelchair services and may create a situation where an inappropriate wheelchair is prescribed, which will, in turn, affect product preparation, fitting user training and function15,16.
METHODS
Design
An observational cross-sectional descriptive design was used to achieve the aims of this study. Data were collected from every participant who required a standard wheelchair to mobilise in a defined area at the time of the study17.
Study Location
The study was conducted in the Thulamela Municipality region in Vhembe District, Limpopo. Thulamela municipality has a population density of people 497237 18. Health services are delivered by one Regional Hospital, one District Hospital, one Specialised Psychiatric Hospital, three Community Health Centres, 49 clinics and mobile services. The Thulamela Municipality catchment area has a geographical mix of rural, urban and semi-rural areas, 47.7% of Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe district's population lives in Thulamela municipality18. More than 85% of the people in the Thulamela municipality live in tribal areas. A total of 10.7% of the households have access to a flushing toilet connected to sewerage, whereas 15.2% have access to tap water inside the yard. Thulamela municipality has an unemployment rate of 43.8%, most people in the municipality derive their livelihoods through agricultural pursuits11.
Recruitment and Sampling
Simple random sampling was used to select 60 wheelchair users who were issued with standard manual wheelchairs and discharged from which hospital between 2014 and 2018. Simple random sampling was selected because it would bean equal chance of each participant being selected, thus eliminating any sampling bias19.
Data Collection Instrument
The Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WhOM) was used in this study20. According to Mortenson et al20 - the developers of the tool - the WhOM is a client-specific wheelchair assessment tool that was designed to measure client satisfaction level. The WhOM consists of two parts. Part one deals with the participants' level of satisfaction whilst engaging in their basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Part II focuses on the suitability of the wheelchair in terms of comfort in using the wheelchair and satisfaction with positioning and skin breakdown. The instrument has been developed for adult wheelchair users20,21.
Data Collection
Data were collected on the descriptive components from wheelchair users over a three weeks period in August 2018. The survey was completed at the participants' homesteads by the first author. The demographic section comprised three subsections namely, client identifying data; lifestyle and environment; and medical diagnoses. Data on participants' opinion of importance, satisfaction, and comfort with the standard manual wheelchair during occupational performance inside the home and outside the environment were collected under the descriptive component using Part II (Importance and participation) of the WhOM Questionnaire. The WhOM is designed to assist wheelchair users identify and evaluate the impact of wheelchair interventions on participation level outcomes20,21.
Data Analysis
Descriptive data were recorded using Microsoft excel and then analysed and coded using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-2) programme (IBM, 2021). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse frequencies on dependent and independent variables for Part I, II, and III. The dependent variables for this study were the standard manual wheelchairs prescribed for various disabilities. The independent variables for this study were wheelchair user levels of satisfaction and comfort with the appropriateness of the standard manual wheelchairs during occupational performance and sitting, respectively. To ensure content validity in this study, items included for investigation were based on the WhOM manual. In this study, the interpretation of results considered the participants' diverse disability needs for wheelchair users to ensure consequential and external validity.
Ethical considerations
Although the data collection method for this study did not involve any known risk, during data collection, all efforts were made to ensure the safety and welfare of the participants. Participation in the study was voluntary. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant. All information was treated as confidential. The names of the clients or any information directly identifying the client are not included in the research report or any other form of publication of this study. Any other patient-identifying data required for data analysis is kept confidential and used only for analysis purposes. All completed questionnaires are kept in lockable storage, which is only accessible to the authors. The questionnaires will be disposed of through shredding after five years.
Relevant ethical considerations were adhered to. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of KwaZulu Natal Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BREC Ref No.: BE411/17). Gatekeeper permission was sought from the Limpopo Department of Health and Thulamela Municipality Vhembe district Department of Health and Tshilidzini Regional Hospital, responsible for wheelchair management for the Thulamela Municipality Vhembe district.
RESULTS
The results of the study collected through the use of the WhOM Questionnaire are highlighted. The demographic profile of the standard manual wheelchair users and their activity participation goals are presented followed by the results on participants' level of satisfaction and comfort during occupational performance inside the home and outside environment are illustrated. The results level of comfort experienced by the participants when sitting in standard manual wheelchairs is presented.
Demographic Profile of Participants in this Study
This study involved 60 participants who use a wheelchair for mobility; ages ranging between 18 to 93 years; mean of 45.08 (± 19.07). The sample comprised both males and females. The majority of the participants were males (n=34; 57%). Distances travelled ranged between less than 1 and over 5km. the participants travelled in their wheelchairs was over 5km (n=28; 47%), with the least distance being up to 1km (n=12; 20%). Most participants (n=43; 72%) spent over eight hours a day in their wheelchair, with (n=2; 3%) spending 1-3 hours a day in the wheelchair. A large proportion of the participants (n=48; 80%) were independent in wheelchair transfers. Most of the participants used inside toilets (n=26; 43%), or pit privy toilets (n=26; 43%), whilst PWDs (n=2; 3%). had access to an inside wheelchair adapted toilet Almost half of the participants relied on minibus taxis as a mode of transport (n=29; 48%), a fair amount relied on private cars (n=23; 38%). The most common diagnosis reported was spinal cord injuries (n=28; 47%), with the least prominent diagnosis being poliomyelitis (n=1; 2%). (Table I, page 71).
Activity Participation Goals
The activity participation goals of the participants at home and outside the home are presented in Tables II and III (adjacent). Participants were asked to provide activity participation goals that they performed inside the home and outside the home. Each activity participation goal given by the participants was recorded. Each activity participation goal provided by the participant was rated from 0 to 10 by the participant for level of not therapist satisfied at and 10 meaning extremely satisfied. Table II (adjacent) presents a summary of the participants' activity participation goals in the home, including mean and median satisfaction and importance scores per activity participation goal. The table is ordered according to the activity participation goal with the most to least number of respondents.
The most common activities performed at home that the participants identified were watching television (TV), cooking, eating doing laundry, cleaning bathing and moving around the yard. The least common activities performed at home were looking after children, studying playing games, going to the bathroom and gardening.
Watching television was the most common activity that the participants participated in at home (n=38; 63%). A high level of importance (mean of 9.39± 1.69) on a scale of 0 -10 and satisfaction (mean 8.18± 2.69) was noted. Cooking was the second most prominent activity participation goal amongst the participants (n=24; 40%), with a high level of importance (mean of 9.58± 1.32) and overall average satisfaction (mean of 5.75± 3.07). Looking after children was the least prominent (n=1; 2%). Overall, the wheelchair participants rated the level of importance of activity participation in the home as high (mean 9.36 ± 1.46), with an average level of satisfaction (mean 6.93 ± 3.18).
The participants' activity goals outside the home varied. Visiting friends was the most reported by participants (n=14; 23%), with an average importance (mean 9.86 ± 0.53), and a high level of satisfaction (mean 8.43 ± 2.28). Travelling to town, moving around the workplace and going to the hair salon were the least common activity goals amongst the participants (n=1;2%). Travelling to learnership (n=7;12%) was ranked as highly important (mean=10) and average for level of satisfaction (mean 6.71± 3.15). Table III (below) presents a summary of activity participation goals outside the home by the participants. Overall, the wheelchair participants ranked the level of importance of activity participation outside the home as high (mean 9.28 ± 1.38) with an average level of satisfaction (mean 6.72 ± 3.11).
Level of Comfort, Pressure Sores and Body Position experienced by Wheelchair Users
Table IV (below) highlights the self-reported scores of how the participants rated the level of satisfaction related to comfort and body position while sitting in the wheelchair. The participants were given a scale from 0 to 10 to their level of satisfaction related to comfort and body position while in a wheelchair. A value of 0 means that the participant is not at all comfortable/not satisfied at all, whereas a value of 10 means that the participant is extremely comfortable/ extremely satisfied with the comfort and body position when they are using their wheelchair. A mean score of 6.61 ± 2.89 was rated for the level of comfort, and a mean score of 6.25 ± 3.21 was also rated for body position. The majority of the participants (n=54; 92%) had not experienced pressure sores on their buttocks six months prior to data collection whereas five of the participants (8%) had experienced pressure sores in the prior six months.
DISCUSSION
This study investigated the appropriateness of the standard manual wheelchair for occupational performance in various occupational settings and community settings in the Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe District of Limpopo province in South Africa. Determining the level of importance and wheelchair user satisfaction is an essential aspect of assessing the appropriateness of the standard manual wheelchair in occupational performance. The results illustrated that wheelchair users in the Thulamela Municipality Vhembe district view activity participation in the home as very important and are generally satisfied with their standard manual wheelchair while performing occupational activities at home. Moreover, the study revealed that there is significant participation by wheelchair users in occupational activities outside the outside the home in the Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe district. Wheelchair users have a high level of satisfaction with their standard manual wheelchairs while performing occupational activities outside the home. There was a wide range of activities that the participants engaged in while outside the home which is an encouraging finding since the literature indicates that individuals who are "healthy" are those who are engaged in meaningful occupations22.
The diagnosis of spinal cord injuries (SCI) was prominent amongst the participants in this study (47%). In South Africa, the main cause of SCI in was found to be assault, which accounted for approximately 60% of all cases23 followed by transport related causes and falls. The majority of the participants (72%) spent over eight hours a day in their wheelchairs. A large proportion of the participants (80%) were independent with wheelchair transfers. Though a significant number of participants were independent in wheelchair transfers, the age range of the participants ranged between 18 to 93 which could have an impact on the participants' independence in wheelchair transfers as older participants could have had difficulties with independent transfers due to their frailty. As pointed out earlier this is in view of the total age of the participants averaging 45.08 ± 19.07 therefore, the age range is wide. Injuries that led to the participants using a wheelchair for mobility ranged from motor vehicle accidents to violence, neurological disorders and genetic disorders.
Almost half of the participants relied on minibus taxis as a mode of transport (48%). It is possible that the design of the standard manual wheelchair, which is small with a foldable design and therefore and takes up less space inside taxis24. Therefore, it is easier to transport25 and thus making it easier for wheelchair users to access public transport. Chakwizira et al.'s findings whereby persons with disabilities reported that they faced challenges with public transportation25. This study found that 48% of the participants were using taxis and 52% of the participants use private car or metered taxi which would make accessing transport expensive. Lister and Dunpath26 noted that historically, there has been limited focus on the rights of and provision of transportation for people with disabilities despite policies and legislation aimed at guaranteeing the inclusion of people with disabilities. Visagie et al.27 found that challenges with regards to transportation that wheelchair users experienced might be attributable to factors other than wheelchair design such as inaccessible transport, the cost of transport etc.26,27. The factors that hindered accessing transport were not explored in this study.
The participants were from rural, peri-urban and urban areas where different types of toilets are available. The pit privy toilets, also referred to as 'latrines', are used for onsite waste management. They consist of a hole in the ground, which may be unlined or lined, with a reinforcing material to contain human excreta and the standard inside toilets is the most common in these areas.
The level of importance attached to being able to perform occupational activities in the home was reported as high however, participants' level of satisfaction with their performance was not substantial. The participants could have viewed the activities as very important however they may have not been satisfied with the extent to which wheelchair use enhanced their participation in activities in the home. The choice in the type of the wheelchair as well as the adjustments made to the wheelchair must be individualised to enhance satisfaction and usability28. The wheelchair prescriber would have to be innovative in customizing the wheelchair as there is only one standard wheelchair available that can be equipment with 'tuffee' wheels to ensure suitability for rural use.
Overall, the wheelchair participants attached a high level of importance to activity participation outside the home but the participants' level of satisfaction was not substantial. Bergström and Samuelsson29 conducted a study exploring participants' satisfaction with their manual wheelchairs29. The focus was on the clients with spinal cord injuries. Overall, 80% of the participants were satisfied with their wheelchairs. This correlated with this study's findings.
A total of (n=46; 78%) of the participants felt comfortable in their wheelchair, and 22% (n=13) felt less comfortable in their wheelchair. Most of the time they will be sitting. In a study by Visagie et al.27comfort as an essential wheelchair feature was ranked as one of the three key features by adults in the study27. Bergström and Samuelsson29 found that with an improved sitting posture, participants found an enhancement in engagement of activities related to the fact that the participants found it easier to use the wheelchair27. This could be correlated to the results of this study participants also reported that they felt comfortable in their wheelchair and felt that their body was positioned well while in a wheelchair. The majority of the participants (n=40; 68%) reported that their body was positioned well while using the wheelchair.
The participant who received 16 wheelchairs in five years is a 53-year-old female with a diagnosis of spinal cord injury, residing in a rural area who spends more than eight hours a day in a wheelchair. In this case, the unsuitability of the type of wheelchair on the terrain might be contributing to frequent breaks and the need for frequent wheelchair replacements. The National Guidelines on Provision of Assistive Devices7 do not stipulate the expected service life of appliances such as wheelchairs however, the Western Cape Department of Health30 stipulates that the expected lifespan of a wheelchair is five to eight years, depending on the activity level, the weight of the user and the terrain used30,7. The aforementioned guidelines however highlight that there should be no limits on the replacement of an assistive device unless it is not needed anymore, or there is evidence of poor maintenance or abuse. Given the overall high satisfaction scores in the study, one could therefore question whether the participants were more likely to report participation outcomes with which they were satisfied rather than those which they were not satisfied with.
CONCLUSION
The study found that level of importance that wheelchair participants attached to level of importance of activity participation inside and outside the home was high. Overall, the participants felt comfortable while sitting in their wheelchair and also felt that their body was positioned well. Most of the participants had not experienced pressure sores on their buttocks in the prior six months. There was participation in a wide range of occupational choices ranging from self-care activities and watching television in the home to visiting friends and family and attending events outside the home. This highlighted the need to consider the wheelchair users occupational choices and the context when prescribing a wheelchair. This also implies a need to ensure training of new occupational therapy staff in each facility in the Thulamela district to equip them with the skills to prescribe wheelchairs. A qualitative study is recommended to explore the different aspects that determined the participants' choices for the activity participation goals, how they determined the importance of those participation goals, their level of community participation and socialization. This would allow occupational therapists to gain better insight into the use of their client's wheelchairs both in the home and outside the home and assist in identifying the facilitating factors and barriers to using the standard manual wheelchair.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the study participants for their willingness to participate in the study and Mr SM Phehlukwayo for his contributions in guidance in early stages of this study.
Competing interests
No completing interest to declare
Author contributions
Khumbelo Nethathe and Helga Lister conceptualised the study. Khumbelo Nethathe conducted the data collection and initial data analysis. Pragashnie Govender and Helga Lister assisted in the data analysis. Helga Lister, Pragashnie Govender and Deshini Naidoo assisted in the interpretation of the data. Khumbelo Nethathe, Helga Lister, Pragashnie Govender and Deshini Naidoo drafted the manuscript. Pragashnie Govender and Deshini Naidoo assisted in the critical review of the manuscript and revisions.
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Correspondence:
Deshini Naidoo
Email: naidoodes@ukzn.ac.za
Submitted: 20 December 2023
Reviewed: 10 February 2024
Revised: 25 April 2024
Accepted: 2 May 2024
Editor: Hester M. van Biljon: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4433-6457
Data availabiity: Data can be made available by the corresponding author on request
Funding: No funding was received for this research