Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Background and Rationale: The population of older adults is growing exponentially and a parallel increase in wheelchair use is suspected. Although wheelchairs can augment mobility, wheelchair use is associated with reduced numerous health risks. A proactive approach to improving health outcomes for this population may result from self-management interventions that focus on improving health behaviours. Such interventions have been successful in improving the health of older adults with various chronic diseases and other health conditions. Purpose: To develop and evaluate a self-management program for older wheelchair users. Objectives: Evaluate the effectiveness of a self-management intervention on improving: 1. self-efficacy; 2. Health status and health behaviours. Hypotheses: Self-management programs for older adult wheelchair users will lead to improvements in: 1. self-confidence; 2. health status and health behaviours. Methods: Mixed-methods Phase 1- QL: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with community-dwelling wheelchair users who are 60 years of age and older to explore their perceptions and experiences of self-efficacy and healthy behaviours. These findings will inform the development of the intervention. Phase 2- QN: A parallel group, randomized controlled trial will be used. Fifty community-dwelling wheelchair users who are 60 years of age and older will complete outcome measures for self-efficacy, health status and health behaviours at baseline, post-intervention and follow-up. The intervention will consist of 6 weekly, 2.5-hour sessions, which will be facilitated by a pair of trained peer-leaders. Participants in the control group will receive no intervention. Data will be analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model analyses. Significance: Self-management interventions may lead to improved self-efficacy, health status and health behaviours in older adult wheelchair users, which may lead to improvements in overall well-being.