Article

PURPOSE: To describe the curriculum for manual wheelchair (MWC) skills training
in entry-to-practice occupational (OT) and physical therapy (PT) programs in
Canada. METHODS: An online survey was sent to 28 directors of entry-to-practice
OT and PT programs in Canadian universities. Responses were solicited from
individuals who could report about wheelchair skills training. Fourteen survey
questions asked about: (1) demographic information, (2) specific curriculum
content for MWC skills training, (3) teaching methods used, (4) instructional
methods and estimated time used to teach MWC skills and (5) whether validated
wheelchair skills training programs were used in curriculum development. RESULTS:
Responses received from 21/28 programs, (OT-11/14; PT-10/14). About 16 of 21
programs included curriculum for MWC skills training. Informal hands-on
instruction was the most common method used for teaching wheelchair skills
(13/21), while multiple lectures were used the least (5/21). Only 8/21 used a
validated wheelchair skills training program in curriculum development.
CONCLUSION: Despite the public availability of a validated wheelchair skills
program, there is little use of the program in entry-to-practice curriculum.
Integrating online training programs into existing curricula or the development
of post-professional training modules may help clinicians to better accommodate
the mobility needs of the substantially increasing population with disabilities.
Implications for Rehabilitation Current clinical curriculum includes basic
wheelchair skills training, but not necessarily training in the advanced
wheelchair skills that are needed for optimal wheelchair mobility. There is
evidence for a standardized approach for providing wheelchair skills training,
that may be administered through curriculum, online or through post-graduate
training modules.

Langue : ANGLAIS