Collaborative Power Mobility Innovative Learning OpporTunity (CoPILOT) - A Pilot Study of a New Training Approach (Phase 1)

Summary

Losing the ability to walk can lead to fewer opportunities to socialize with friends and family and participate in the community. When this happens, powered wheelchairs can provide access to homes and communities, contributing to health and well-being. Training by a qualified occupational therapist allows an individual to use a powered wheelchair safely and effectively. Learning to drive a powered wheelchair can be difficult, frustrating and time consuming for people with cognitive and physical challenges. In this study, we will ask participants with cognitive impairments to complete training with an occupational therapist using either a shared control wheelchair or training methods according to the standard of care. We believe shared control training, entitled Collaborative Powered mobility Innovative Learning OpporTunity (CoPILOT) will enhance driving skill while maximizing safety learning. CoPILOT has the potential to enable people to participate more in their day to day lives and regain mobility independence.

Conditions

• Power Wheelchair
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Spinal Cord Injuries

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

CoPILOT

Participants in both groups will receive twelve hours of training in a standard powered wheelchair however the CoPILOT groups will use remote control technology we have developed. The technology provides the trainer with remote control of wheelchair speed and direction allowing the trainer to override the participant's actions as needed to ensure safe error-free shared controlled wheelchair training. The CoPILOT approach will accommodate varied learning needs, as per adult learning principles, while decreasing trainer input until the participant can complete tasks independently.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada

  collaborator OTHER

• Alzheimer Society of Canada

  collaborator OTHER

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Promobilia Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Rick Hansen Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• University of British Columbia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• William C Miller, PhD · University of British Columbia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

19 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-10-31

Primary Completion

2019-12-31

Completion

2020-12-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations