Effectiveness of wheelchair skills training for improving manual wheelchair mobility in children and adolescents: protocol for a multicenter randomized waitlist-controlled trial

BMC Pediatrics

Study Protocol

R. L. Kirby¹  K. P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos²  S. A. Moore³  J. Sheriko³  M. E. Lamontagne⁴  F. Routhier⁴  B. Ouellet⁴  K. L. Best⁴  P. W. Rushton⁵  T. Dib⁵ 

[1] Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dalhousie University, B3H 4K4, Halifax, NS, Canada;Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, M5S 2W6, Toronto, ON, Canada;School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, B3H 4R2, Halifax, NS, Canada;Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, B3H 4R2, Halifax, NS, Canada;School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Quebec City, QC, Canada;Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé Et de Services Sociaux de La Capitale-Nationale, 525 Wilfrid-Hamel Boulevard, G1M 2S8, Quebec City, QC, Canada;School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada;CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation, H1T 1C9, Montréal, QC, Canada;

关键词: Children;    Adolescents;    Youth;    Disability;    Manual wheelchair;    Wheelchair skills training;    Participation;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12887-023-04303-8

 received in 2023-04-27, accepted in 2023-09-09,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSelf-directed mobility during childhood can influence development, social participation, and independent living later in life. For children who experience challenges with walking, manual wheelchairs (MWCs) provide a means for self-directed mobility. An effective MWC skills training program exists for adults, but controlled trials have not yet been documented in children and adolescents. This paper outlines the protocol for a multi-centre randomized wait-list controlled trial. The primary objective is to test the hypothesis that children and adolescents who receive MWC skills training will have higher MWC skills capacity compared to children and adolescents in the control group who receive usual care. The secondary objectives are to explore the influence of MWC skills training in children and adolescents (MWC use self-efficacy and satisfaction with participation in meaningful activities), and parents (perceived MWC skills); and to measure retention three months later.MethodsA multi-centre, parallel-group, single-blind randomized wait-list controlled trial will be conducted. A sample of 60 children and adolescents who use MWCs will be recruited in rehabilitation centres, specialized schools, and the communities of three Canadian cities. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to the experimental (Wheelchair Skills Training Program [WSTP]) or wait-list control group (usual care). Performance-based and self-report measures will be completed at baseline (T1), three months (post-intervention, T2), and three months post-intervention (T3). The primary outcome will be MWC skills capacity post-intervention. Secondary outcomes will be MWC use self-efficacy and satisfaction with participation of the child/adolescent, and parent-perceived MWC skills. The WSTP will consist of 12 sessions, 45–60 min each, delivered 1–2 times per week by trained personnel with health professions education. Training will be customized according to the child’s baseline skills and participation goals that require the use of the MWC. The wait-list control group will receive usual care for 3 months and then receive the WSTP after completing T2 evaluations. Data will be analysed using ANCOVA (controlling for baseline scores).DiscussionMWC skills training may be one way to improve self-directed mobility and related outcomes for children and adolescents. The results of this multi-centre randomized wait-list controlled trial will allow for the effectiveness of the intervention to be evaluated in a variety of clinical contexts and geographical regions.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05564247, Version October 3, 2022.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 3