One World Project's Wheelchair Skills Training Camp in Morocco - effects of a community peer-based programme

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess wheelchair skills of persons with physical disabilities who attended the first Wheelchair Skills and Empowerment Camp in Morocco and their satisfaction with manual wheelchairs provided for the camp activities.

Materials and methods

19 persons (13 male and 6 female) with physical disabilities took part in the project. The average time since injury or illness was 24 years. To assess wheelchair skills/user satisfaction, the researchers used the Queensland Evaluation of Wheelchair Skills test and the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology.

Results

Study participants improved their overall wheelchair mobility skills (p = 0.002; d = 0.20), especially their ability to ascend and descend a ramp (p = 0.012; d = 0.67). The participants reported significantly greater satisfaction with the new provided wheelchairs in comparison to their own wheelchairs in regard to five satisfaction items; i.e., ease in adjusting (p = 0.011; d = 0.96), safety and security (p = 0.014; d = 0.97), durability (p = 0.037; d = 0.81), ease to use (p = 0.045; d = 0.87), and comfort (p = 0.006; d = 1.03).

Conclusions

Findings of this study indicate that persons with physical disabilities in Morocco need structured training in wheelchair skills and better-quality wheelchairs. The study also confirmed that community peer-based programmes in low-resource countries can play a significant role in rehabilitation of persons with physical disabilities, even many years after their injury or illness.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• The One World project educated local persons with disabilities and government officials about the need for buying appropriate wheelchairs and for providing them according to the World Health Organization guidelines.

• 19 persons who use wheelchairs participated in 6-days of wheelchair skills training sessions, which were led by three peer mentors who use a wheelchair: two with spinal cord injury, and one with polio complications.

• The 19 participants, who had lived with their disabilities on average for 24 years, advanced their general wheelchair mobility skills, which was assessed through a practical test.

• The results confirmed that community peer-based programmes in low-resource countries are important for improving wheelchair skills not only when beginning rehabilitation but even after individuals live many years with a disability.

Keywords:

• physical disability
• community-based rehabilitation
• active rehabilitation
• wheelchair skills

Disclosure statement

The first author of this paper (Tomasz Tasiemski) declares that he has been employed by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) as a consultant and peer-trainer in the project funded by the US State Department, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour in order to implement the training with participants with disabilities in Morocco and to conduct this research as a part of project evaluation. However, the employer IREX had no any influence on the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

The One World Project’s Wheelchair Skills Training Camp in Morocco was supported by the US State Department, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour within project “Justice & Dignity for the Middle East & North Africa” implemented by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) and by the UCP Wheels for Humanity’s Consolidating Logistics for Assistive Technology Supply and Provision II (CLASP II; https://www.clasphub.org) funded by the USAID under Agreement No AID-OAA-A-17-00021.