Factors clinicians consider when providing pediatric wheelchair skills training: a modified think aloud study

Abstract

Purpose

Children who use a manual wheelchair (WC) or a power WC may not receive adequate WC skills training. Clinicians report knowledge as a barrier to the provision of paediatric WC skills training. The purpose of this study was to explore the breadth and depth of specific factors clinicians consider when providing WC skills training for children.

Methods

Data in this modified Think Aloud study were gathered via one-on-one, Zoom-based, audio-recorded Think Aloud Sessions. Sessions consisted of participants viewing four videos, each of different children performing a different WC skill while thinking aloud (verbally expressing) about the factors they recognized, observed, and considered while watching the video. After each video, participants also responded to questions regarding the specific WC skill and the provision of WC skills training for the child in the video. Factors participants reported were independently identified by three researchers through a deductive process of directed content analysis and categorized using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) coding system.

Results

Twenty-eight English-speaking clinicians participated in the study. A total of 1246 distinct factors were mapped to 352 unique ICF codes spanning all four ICF Domains. The largest number of identified factors mapped to codes within the Activities and participation Domain (42.25%).

Conclusion

Participants reported considering multiple factors across the ICF in the provision of WC skills training for children. Providing paediatric WC skills training is a complex activity requiring clinicians to consider a wide range of factors that go beyond a child’s motor abilities.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Providing paediatric wheelchair (WC) skills training is a complex activity requiring clinicians to consider a wide range of factors that go beyond a child’s motor abilities.

• Clinicians should consider the child’s Mental Functions, Activities and Participation, and Environmental Factors when providing wheelchair skills training for children.

• A lack of wheelchair-specific International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health codes was noted. Revising these codes to better capture the diverse range of the benefits and challenges involved in learning to use and using a wheelchair would be beneficial.

Keywords:

• Wheelchairs
• manual wheelchairs
• power wheelchairs
• paediatrics
• wheelchair skills training

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.