Lynn A Worobey1, R Lee Kirby2, Allen W Heinemann3, Emily A Krobot4, Trevor A Dyson-Hudson5, Rachel E Cowan6, Jessica Presperin Pedersen7, Mary Shea8, Michael L Boninger4. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: law93@pitt.edu. 2. Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. 3. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. 4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. 5. Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ. 6. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL. 7. Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. 8. Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, NJ.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of group wheelchair skills training to elicit improvements in wheelchair skills. DESIGN: Randomized double-blinded controlled trial. SETTING: Four Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers. PARTICIPANTS: Manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (N=114). INTERVENTION: Six 90-minute group Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP) classes or two 1-hour active control sessions with 6 to 10 people per group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline (t1) and 1-month follow-up (t2) Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q) (Version 4.2) for capacity and performance and Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) score. RESULTS: Follow-up was completed by 79 participants (WSTP: n=36, active control: n=43). No differences were found between missing and complete cases. Many users were highly skilled at baseline with a WST-Q capacity interquartile range of 77% to 97%. There were no differences between groups at baseline in WST-Q measures or demographics. Compared with the active control group, the WSTP group improved in WST-Q capacity advanced score (P=.02) but not in WST-Q capacity or WST-Q performance total scores (P=.068 and P=.873, respectively). The average GAS score (0% at t1) for the WSTP group at t2 was 65.6%±34.8%. Higher GAS scores and WST-Q capacity scores were found for those who attended more classes and had lower baseline skills. CONCLUSIONS: Group training can improve advanced wheelchair skills capacity and facilitate achievement of individually set goals. Lower skill levels at baseline and increased attendance were correlated with greater improvement.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of group wheelchair skills training to elicit improvements in wheelchair skills. DESIGN: Randomized double-blinded controlled trial. SETTING: Four Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers. PARTICIPANTS: Manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (N=114). INTERVENTION: Six 90-minute group Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP) classes or two 1-hour active control sessions with 6 to 10 people per group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline (t1) and 1-month follow-up (t2) Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q) (Version 4.2) for capacity and performance and Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) score. RESULTS: Follow-up was completed by 79 participants (WSTP: n=36, active control: n=43). No differences were found between missing and complete cases. Many users were highly skilled at baseline with a WST-Q capacity interquartile range of 77% to 97%. There were no differences between groups at baseline in WST-Q measures or demographics. Compared with the active control group, the WSTP group improved in WST-Q capacity advanced score (P=.02) but not in WST-Q capacity or WST-Q performance total scores (P=.068 and P=.873, respectively). The average GAS score (0% at t1) for the WSTP group at t2 was 65.6%±34.8%. Higher GAS scores and WST-Q capacity scores were found for those who attended more classes and had lower baseline skills. CONCLUSIONS: Group training can improve advanced wheelchair skills capacity and facilitate achievement of individually set goals. Lower skill levels at baseline and increased attendance were correlated with greater improvement.
Authors: Lynn A Worobey; R Lee Kirby; Rachel E Cowan; Trevor A Dyson-Hudson; Mary Shea; Allen W Heinemann; Jessica Presperin Pedersen; Michael L Boninger Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2021-06-06 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Emma Williams; Elizabeth Hurwitz; Immaculate Obaga; Brenda Onguti; Adovich Rivera; Tyrone Reden L Sy; R Lee Kirby; Jamie Noon; Deepti Tanuku; Anthony Gichangi; Eva Bazant Journal: BMC Int Health Hum Rights Date: 2017-08-17
Authors: Lynn A Worobey; R Lee Kirby; Rachel E Cowan; Trevor A Dyson-Hudson; Mary Shea; Allen W Heinemann; Jessica Presperin Pedersen; Rachel Hibbs; Michael L Boninger Journal: Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol Date: 2020-08-18
Authors: Eva S Bazant; Elizabeth J Himelfarb Hurwitz; Brenda N Onguti; Emma K Williams; Jamie H Noon; Cheryl A Xavier; Ferdiliza D S Garcia; Anthony Gichangi; Mohammed Gabbow; Peter Musakhi; R Lee Kirby Journal: Afr J Disabil Date: 2017-10-20
Authors: Lynn A Worobey; Gina McKernan; Maria Toro; Jonathan Pearlman; Rachel E Cowan; Allen W Heinemann; Trevor A Dyson-Hudson; Jessica Presperin Pedersen; Matthew Mesoros; Michael L Boninger Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2021-06-24 Impact factor: 3.966