Grant: Project Grant

Manual wheelchair (MWC) skills training is a critical component of wheelchair service provision. However, children and youth receive little to no training. Sixteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two meta-analyses demonstrate that training effectively improves MWC skills in adults. There is also evidence suggesting that training improves self-efficacy and satisfaction with participation (ie., facilitators of independent mobility and social participation). Independent mobility is especially critical for children, as it is associated with higher likelihood of employment and independent living in adulthood. Despite evidence of an effective Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP) for adults, very little research has been conducted in the area of wheelchair mobility for children and youth. Three small single-group studies suggest that MWC skills training improves wheelchair skills and satisfaction with participation among individuals ages 4-17 years when training was conducted by professionals (eg. clinicians) and non-professionals (eg. peer-trainers). However, there are no controlled trials documenting the effect of MWC skills training among children and no evidence of best training approaches. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the WSTP for improving MWC skills, MWC confidence and participation outcomes among children and youth. A randomized controlled trial will establish efficacy of clinician led approaches to training, which may be implemented on a broader community-based scale in the future. The results of this study will provide critical evidence for best practices for improving MWC mobility during childhood. Deliverables from this study will include MWC skills training tools for clinicians, that will be made freely available through an existing website. The results will support multi-site implementation trials and exploration of community-based approaches to wheelchair skills training for children and use.