Abstract
Mountain AD, Kirby RL, Smith C. The Wheelchair Skills Test, version 2.4: validity
of an algorithm-based questionnaire version. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:416–23.
Objective
To test the hypothesis that an algorithm-based questionnaire version of the Wheelchair
Skills Test (WST) would provide a valid assessment of manual wheelchair skills.
Design
Within-participant comparisons.
Setting
Rehabilitation center in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Participants
Twenty wheelchair users, 11 with musculoskeletal and 9 with neurologic disorders,
with a wide range of wheelchair experience (1wk–20y).
Intervention
Each participant completed the questionnaire (WST-Q) and then the objective skills
testing (WST, version 2.4).
Main outcome measure
The WST-Q consisted of 3 components, reported as separate versions: the knowledge
version (WST-Q [K]) (structured oral questions only); the visual-aid version (WST-Q
[VA]) (visual aids added for 6 of the skills); and the categorical perceived-ability
version (WST-Q [PA]).
Results
The mean total percentage scores for the WST-Q (K), WST-Q (VA), WST-Q (PA), and WST
were 60.5%, 62.2%, 64.0%, and 59.8%, respectively. Only the WST-Q (PA) differed significantly
from the WST (P<.05). Positive correlations existed between the objective WST and the WST-Q (K) (r=.91), WST-Q (VA) (r=.91), and WST-Q (PA) (r=.83). The percentage agreement on the individual skill scores ranged from 55% to
100%.
Conclusions
The algorithm-based WST-Q has excellent concurrent validity in comparison with objective
testing, when assessing the overall manual wheelchair skill levels of wheelchair users
with a wide range of experience. It may be useful as a screening tool or when objective
testing is impractical.
Keywords
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Article info
Footnotes
☆Supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and University Internal Medicine Research Foundation.
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
