PROJECT V – EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY, EFFICACY AND IMPACT OF THE WHEELCHAIR-SKILLS PROGRAM FOR POWER MOBILITY USERS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

Purpose, Objectives and Hypotheses
Our goal is to address the gaps in our understanding of wheelchair skills training, particularly the safety and efficacy of such training for both powered wheelchair users and their caregivers, and the broad impact of skills training on health, function and social participation.

The project will occur in three Phases and test three hypotheses.
Phase 1: Implementation of the WSP-P in participating sites.
Phase 2: Refinement of the WSP-P, specifically the evaluation criteria, training tips and educational materials.
Phase 3: Evaluation of the safety, efficacy and impact of the WST-P for older adults and their caregivers (Vancouver site only) who are receiving powered wheelchairs for the first time. We will study older adults and their caregivers who undergo the WST-P in the course of receiving powered wheelchairs for the first time, and compare their outcomes with their own baseline values as well as with historical controls at comparable time periods (recorded in the longitudinal study of Project II).

Hypothesis 1: Participants will improve their total percentage WST-P 4.1 performance scores by at least 25%.
Hypothesis 2: Participants will improve their total percentage WST-P 4.1 safety scores by at least 25% and will not experience any serious adverse events during training.
Hypothesis 3: Participants will improve at least 25% on a series of non-WST-P measures of impact (preliminary list provided earlier in Project II).

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