Evaluation of the Wheelchair School (Drivkraft) a Clinical Study

NCT ID: NCT07131553

Last Updated: 2025-08-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-12-31

Brief Summary

This project will evaluate the Wheelchair School with the Drivkraft Methodology in a clinical setting. Participants are adults with chronic neurological diagnoses. For a person requiring a wheelchair, a well-functioning, individually adapted wheelchair and good maneuvering skills are essential for an independent daily life. These factors are also crucial in reducing the risk of secondary complications and pain. The Wheelchair School was founded in the 1990s, is provided by referral and both peer mentors and physiotherapists collaborate. It includes wheelchair prescription and adjustments, individually adapted wheelchair skills training, and theoretical lessons in group during 16 half-day sessions.

The overarching aim is to evaluate the intervention Wheelchair school with the Drivkraft method, for wheelchair skills and patient safety for persons with chronic neurological diagnoses in a Swedish context. Also to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Drivkraft Manouevering Test (DWMT) for wheelchair skills.

Detailed Description

Evaluation of the Wheelchair School using the Drivkraft Methodology This study focuses on adults with permanent neurological diagnoses (e.g., multiple sclerosis -MS, spinal cord injury) who continuously use a wheelchair. Education in a group setting with peer mentors who have personal experience of using a wheelchair, alongside interaction with other participants in similar situations, can be highly beneficial. The training program includes individual wheelchair prescription and or adjustments, wheelchair technique instruction, theoretical lessons, and group training. The program consists of 16 half-day sessions with peer mentors and physiotherapists in a clinical setting.

Research questions:

Do the participants improve in the following aspects directly after, and two months after the intervention: Wheelchair skills (WST and DWMT), satisfaction during everyday activities (Wheelchair Outcome Measure [WhoM]), confidence during everyday activities (Wheelchair confidence measure [WCM]), shoulder pain (wheelchair user shoulder pain index [WUSPI],fear and concerns about falling (Falls Concern Scale[FCS]), and number of falls and fall-related injuries? Is improvement of wheelchair skills associated with higher satisfaction and confidence, as well as decreased concerns about falling during daily activities? Does DWMT have sound psychometric properties, validity and sensitivity to change compared to WST? Method Design: A prospective intervention study with a comparison group. Participants: Adults with permanent neurological diagnoses referred to the Wheelchair School at Aleris Rehab Station, Stockholm, Sweden. The active comparison group comprises individuals with similar diagnoses in the same age range participating in other programs of similar length and intensity at the same unit.

Procedure: All participants undergo a physiotherapy assessment, assessment of the wheelchair including settings and manouvering skills (DWMT, WST). Also, the participants answer patient reported outcome measures (WCM, WhOM, FCS), before, directly after the rehabilitation, and after two months. The active comparison group are assessed at the same time points with the same outcome measures. The program consists of 15 half-day training sessions, and a follow-up. Psychometric properties and validity of the DWMT will be assessed

Conditions

Neurological Disorders; Wheelchair Mobility; Rehabilitation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Intervention group wheelchair school

Wheelchair school, 15 half days of wheelchair training

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Wheelchair school

Intervention Type: OTHER

Wheelchair skills training with pysiotherapist and peer mentor

Comparison group

conventional rehabilitation

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Comparison group, conventional rehabilitation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Conventional rehabilitation at the same unit of similiar length and intensity

Interventions

Wheelchair school

Wheelchair skills training with pysiotherapist and peer mentor

Intervention Type: OTHER

Comparison group, conventional rehabilitation

Conventional rehabilitation at the same unit of similiar length and intensity

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Conventional rehabilitation

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participant in the Drivkraft Wheelchair school at Aleris Rehab Station
• Adult with neurological diagnosis using manual wheelchair

Exclusion Criteria

• Persons with Parkinsons Disease
• Persons with too limited Swedish language skills to fill in study forms or make a signed consent
• Persons with cognitive impairments affecting their ability to fill in study forms or make a signed consent

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Aleris Rehab Station, Stockholm

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Karolinska Institutet

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Emelie Butler Forslund

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Aleris Rehab Station

Solna, , Sweden

Countries

Sweden

Facility Contacts

Emelie Butler Forslund, PhD

Role: primary

emelie.butler.forslund@ki.se

46-8-555 44 033

Kerstin Wahman, Associate Professor

Role: backup

kerstin.wahman@ki.se

Other Identifiers

Dnr 2023-06358-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id