Improving Clinician Capacity to Provide Interventions for Manual Wheelchair Users

Summary

The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of remote manual wheelchair skills training program for clinicians. The study will use three-group approach: intervention with remote feedback (Group 1), control group (Group 2), and structured self-study (Group 3). This demonstrates how the intervention compares not only to a control, but also to the next "best alternative" - therapists sourcing web-based training materials and learning independently.

Conditions

• Paraplegia
• Paralysis, Legs

Interventions

OTHER

Part 2 of intervention A - Asynchronous feedback from a remote trainer

Participants will practice of wheelchair skills paired with remote feedback. Participants will be reminded to practice once per week. The participant will practice any number of the 15 skills for a self-selected duration. Following each practice session, the participant will upload video(s) of the skills practiced and a session log, indicating any difficulties they encountered. The remote trainer will then review the video-recordings and reply to the participant with feedback.

OTHER

Part 1 of intervention A - Wheelchair skills training modules

Clinicians will review a suite of training videos in a prescribed order that discuss motor learning principles, safe spotting, and how to complete 15 intermediate and advanced skills: 1. Opening/closing doors 2. getting over a gap 3. getting over a threshold 4. ascending a low curb 5. descending a low curb 6. ascending a high curb 7. descending a high curb 8. performing a stationary wheelie 9. descending a high curb in a wheelie position 10. descending a steep incline in a wheelie position and stopping 11. ascending stairs 12. descending stairs 13. completing a floor-to-chair transfer 14. car transfers 15. folding and unfolding wheelchair

OTHER

Intervention B: Education on wheelchair provision

Participants will be provided with access to web-based wheelchair provision education modules. When the content is viewed will be self-selected by participants. Participants will be asked to complete a feedback survey at the end of the modules. Participants will receive weekly reminders to complete the intervention until a feedback survey completed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dalhousie University

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

  collaborator FED

• University of Pittsburgh

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lynn Worobey, PhD/DPT · University of Pittsburgh

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-02-22

Primary Completion

2025-10-16

Completion

2025-10-16

Countries

• United States

Study Locations