Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of wheelchair skills training on confidence in
older adults who are inexperienced wheelchair users. DESIGN: Parallel group,
single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Research laboratory in a
rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Participants
(N=20) who were
community-living older adults at least 65 years old (mean age, 70y), 50% women,
and who had no experience of using a wheelchair were randomly allocated to an
intervention (n=10) or control
(n=10) group. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention
group received two 1-hour training sessions that followed the Wheelchair Skills
Training Program (WSTP) protocol. The control group received a single
socialization contact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The Wheelchair Use Confidence
Scale-Manual (WheelCon-M) was used to evaluate confidence with using a manual
wheelchair. The WheelCon-M is a self-report questionnaire that comprises 65 items
in 6 conceptual areas. RESULTS: A 1-way between-groups analysis of covariance
revealed a significant difference in postintervention WheelCon-M scores between
the intervention and control groups (F1,17=10.9, P=.004) after controlling for
baseline WheelCon-M scores.
A large effect size was also observed (partial
eta(2)=.39). Secondary analyses revealed that the WSTP had greater effects on
confidence in areas related to maneuvering around the physical environment,
knowledge and problem solving, advocacy, and managing emotions than in areas
related to performing activities and behaving in social situations. CONCLUSION:
Two 1-hour WSTP sessions improve confidence with using a manual wheelchair among
older adults who are inexperienced wheelchair users.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS