Wheelchair skills training for caregivers of manual wheelchair users: a randomized controlled trial comparing self-study and remote training

Abstract

In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, we tested the hypotheses that, in comparison with control participants receiving only self-study materials (SS group), caregivers of manual wheelchair users who additionally receive remote training (RT group) have greater total Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q) performance and confidence scores post-training and at follow-up; and that self-study and remote training each individually lead to such gains. We studied 23 dyads of wheelchair users and their caregivers. Caregivers in the SS group received a handbook and videorecording. Those in the RT group also received up to four real-time (“synchronous”) sessions remotely. The WST-Q 5.1 was administered pre-training (T1), post-training (T2), and after a 3-month follow-up (T3). The mean total WST-Q scores of both groups rose slightly at each new assessment. For the T2-T1 and T3-T1 gains, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups for either WST-Q performance or WST-Q confidence. For performance, the T2-T1 gain was statistically significant for the RT group and the T3-T2 gain was statistically significant for the SS group. For both groups, the T3-T1 gains in performance were statistically significant with gains of 12.9% and 18.5% relative to baseline for the SS and RT groups. For confidence, only the T3-T1 gain for the SS group was statistically significant with a gain of 4.5% relative to baseline. Although less than the gains previously reported for in-person training, modest but important gains in total WST-Q performance scores can be achieved by self-study, with or without remote training.

Registration Number

NCT03856749.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Self-study can improve the manual wheelchair skills of caregivers.

• Remote training can improve the manual wheelchair skills of caregivers.

• Improvements are slightly less than those reported in the literature for in-person training.

Keywords:

• Wheelchair
• training
• caregiver
• motor skills
• tele-health

Acknowledgements

We thank Steve Doucette for his assistance in study design and Kristin Russell for her implementation support.

List of suppliers

SAS statistical software. 100 SAS Campus Dr, Cary, NC 27513, USA.

Geolocation information

This study was conducted in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (gps coordinates 44° 39′ 3.8520″ N and 63° 34′ 57.6732″ W).

AI Statement

The authors did not use any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Nova Scotia Health Research Fund [Grant #1024707], Halifax, NS, Canada.