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

Older Adult Manual Wheelchair Users Clinical Trial

— EPIC WheelS  

Official title:

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

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01644292
• Other study ID #: H2012:069
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: August 2012
• Est. completion date: March 2013

Study information

• Verified date: January 2014
• Source: University of Manitoba
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

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.

Description:

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 2
• Est. completion date: March 2013
• Est. primary completion date: March 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 50 Years and older

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Older Adult Manual Wheelchair Users

Intervention

Other:
• EPIC WheelS
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.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	University of Manitoba	Winnipeg	Manitoba

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Manitoba

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	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)