Effectiveness of Wheelchair Skills Training for Caregivers of Manual Wheelchair Users

NCT ID: NCT03856749

Last Updated: 2024-02-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 27 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-12-04
• Study Completion Date: 2023-05-30

Brief Summary

Although there have been a small number of studies suggesting the important role that caregivers play in assisting wheelchair users with mobility, there has never been a randomized controlled trial (RCT) looking at the effectiveness or cost-utility of wheelchair skills training for caregivers. The overall goal of this study is to correct this knowledge gap and, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, to conduct the training remotely. The main purpose of this study is to test if providing wheelchair skills training remotely to caregivers of manual wheelchair users enhances caregiver-assisted wheelchair skills ability and confidence in comparison to a control group of participants who are receiving usual care and self-study material on wheelchair skills. The investigators will also study whether the benefits of training are still seen at a 6-week follow-up and assess the health-economic impact of caregiver training.

Conditions

Caregivers

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Treatment

The wheelchair user and caregiver will be trained together on wheelchair skills using remote technology (Zoom for healthcare and/or Facetime).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Remote wheelchair skills training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Prior to the first training session, the trainer will be provided with the results from the assessment immediately preceding training to provide him/her time to individualize the training session. Trainer will provide self-study materials (the Caregiver Handbook and caregiver-training video-recording) and an explanation on how these materials should be used.

The wheelchair user and caregiver will be trained together on wheelchair skills, using the principles of the Wheelchair Skills Training Program, as outlined in the Wheelchair Skills Program Manual using remote technology. Each training session will be with a trainer-to-dyad ratio of 1:1 1 dyad = 1 manual wheelchair user + his/her caregiver. Training will continue until the goals have been met and retained (for at least one subsequent session), using up to 4 training sessions that will each last up to 60 minutes at intervals a minimum of 3 days.

Control

The wheelchair user and caregiver will receive the same self-study materials provided to the Treatment arm. Usual care, which may include wheelchair skills training for both wheelchair users and caregivers( but which often does not do so to an adequate extent) by wheelchair user's clinical therapist.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Remote wheelchair skills training

Prior to the first training session, the trainer will be provided with the results from the assessment immediately preceding training to provide him/her time to individualize the training session. Trainer will provide self-study materials (the Caregiver Handbook and caregiver-training video-recording) and an explanation on how these materials should be used.

The wheelchair user and caregiver will be trained together on wheelchair skills, using the principles of the Wheelchair Skills Training Program, as outlined in the Wheelchair Skills Program Manual using remote technology. Each training session will be with a trainer-to-dyad ratio of 1:1 1 dyad = 1 manual wheelchair user + his/her caregiver. Training will continue until the goals have been met and retained (for at least one subsequent session), using up to 4 training sessions that will each last up to 60 minutes at intervals a minimum of 3 days.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• be ≥ 18 years of age
• able to communicate in English
• be willing to participate and be committed to setting regularly scheduled times for the study activities
• will need to have the appropriate connectivity for the remote training and testing (i.e. telephone, limited-access e-mail and internet).

• a person who uses a manual wheelchair
• be expected to continue to use a manual wheelchair at least part-time in the coming months
• requires no more than minimal assistance for communication and auditory comprehension

-must be a caregiver (e.g. a family member, friend, volunteer or regular homecare worker) who spends an average total of at least 2 hours per week with the manual wheelchair user that includes manual wheelchair mobility.

Exclusion Criteria

• fail to complete the baseline (T1) assessment
• have unstable medical conditions (e.g. angina, seizures) that might make the use of a manual wheelchair dangerous
• emotional problems (e.g. severe anxiety, depression) that might make participation unsafe or unpleasant
• have a medical condition that is likely to deteriorate in the three months following enrollment.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

IWK Health Centre

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Lee Kirby

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Lee Kirby

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Kirby RL, Smith C, Miller MD, Osmond D, Sherman MA, Parker K, Koto PS, Theriault CJ, Sandila N. Wheelchair skills training for caregivers of manual wheelchair users: a randomized controlled trial comparing self-study and remote training. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2024 Nov;19(8):2896-2903. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2024.2321272. Epub 2024 Feb 29.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 38420947 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

WSP2019-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id