Enhancing Participation In the Community by Improving Wheelchair Skills: Phase 2

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this project is to conduct a pilot study of the EPIC WheelS wheelchair skills home training program for older adults in preparation for a third phase feasibility study.

Detailed Description
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Many older adults rely on a manual wheelchair for community mobility but are not provided with skills for independent and effective use. Suboptimal or disuse of the wheelchair results in substantial social costs such as reduced engagement in meaningful activity, social isolation, and higher caregiver burden. This represents a poor use of financial resources, including the cost of wheelchair acquisition and demands for attendant care. Access to skills training is constrained by the cost and limited availability of skilled therapists, the demands of patient and clinician travel, and lack of programs designed specifically for the needs of older adults. Enhancing Participation In the Community by improving Wheelchair Skills (EPIC WheelS) is an individualized home-training program that optimizes learning for older adults while limiting the demands on expert clinician trainers. It is delivered using a portable computer tablet that allows interactive learning, customized updating, and communication with an expert trainer. A monitored, home program that is effective and efficient for older adults has potential application for other target groups as well, particularly those with limited access to rehabilitation services in rural and remote locations.

Official Title
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Enhancing Participation In the Community by Improving Wheelchair Skills (EPIC WheelS): Phase 2

Conditions
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Older Adult Manual Wheelchair Users

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: EPIC WheelS


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: at least 50 years old live in the community within metropolitan Winnipeg self-propel a MWC (Manual Wheelchair) at least 1 hour per day use their MWC for mobility outside of the home have used a MWC for less than 2 years Exclusion Criteria: cannot communicate and complete study questionnaires in English anticipate a health condition that contraindicates wheelchair training

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: EPIC Wheels Training Intervention<br>EPIC Wheels skills training program | Other: EPIC WheelS<br>* EPIC WheelS is a user-centred program for wheelchair skills training that combines two structured 1-hour sessions with an expert trainer and four weeks of self-directed practice and training in the natural (home) environment.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change From Baseline in Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) 4.1 Capacity Score | The WST is a structured assessment with 32 discrete mobility skills required to perform social roles in the community, each scored dichotomously as pass/fail. The WST produces a total Skill Capacity score (0-100%) reflecting the number of skills safely passed. | Baseline and follow-up (1 month) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Mobility Impairment, Manual Wheelchair, Older Adults