Abstract
Objective
To test the hypotheses that remote training improves trainer confidence and when these
trainers train others the capacity and confidence of the trainees improves.
Design
Cohort study with pre- vs posttraining comparisons.
Setting
Four spinal cord injury model systems centers.
Participants
Convenience sample of 7 clinician trainers and 19 able-bodied trainees (N=26).
Interventions
Part 1 focused on trainer skill acquisition with self-study of the Wheelchair Skills Program Manual and instructional videos focused on motor learning, spotting, and 10 intermediate
and advanced wheelchair skills. Trainers practiced in pairs, receiving asynchronous
feedback on video recordings from a remote instructor. Part 2 included additional
video modules targeted at “how to” assess and train others in 4 wheelchair skills:
gets over obstacle, ascends low curb, ascends high curb with caregiver assistance,
and performs stationary wheelie. Upon completion, the trainers each provided 1:1 in-person
training for 2-3 trainees.
Main Outcome Measures
Trainer confidence was assessed using the Self-Efficacy on Assessing, Training, and
Spotting Test for Manual Wheelchairs. Trainee capacity (“Can you do it?”) and confidence
(“How confident are you?”) were evaluated using the Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire
(WST-Q).
Results
Trainer confidence increased for assessment (P=.003) and training (P=.002) but not spotting (P=.056). Trainee 4-item median (interquartile range) WST-Q scores significantly increased
with training for capacity (13% [6-31] to 88% [75-88], P<.001) and confidence (13% [0-31] to 88% [81-100], P<.001).
Conclusions
Remote training improves trainers’ confidence with respect to wheelchair skills testing
and training and the wheelchair skills capacity and confidence of their trainees.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
IQR (interquartile range), OT (occupational therapist), RCT (randomized controlled trial), SCI (spinal cord injury), SEATS (Self-Efficacy on Assessing, Training, and Spotting Test for Manual Wheelchairs), WST-Q (Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 03, 2021
Accepted:
March 8,
2021
Received in revised form:
March 3,
2021
Received:
October 6,
2020
Footnotes
Supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (grant no. 90DP0025) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (grant no. K23HD096134).
Clinical Trial Registration No.: NCT03499951.
Disclosures: None.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
