Efficacy of Wheelchair Skills Training to Improve Mobility for People with ARSACS and DM1
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- Sponsor
- Laval University
- Enrollment
- 20
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Wheelchairs (WC) are often provided to people with ARSACS and MD1 when they are not able to walk anymore. However, giving someone a MWC alone does not guarantee they will use it safely or properly. Many people who use WC need help from others to get around and they can not always do the things they like to do. This can lead to isolation, stress, and reduced quality of life. In addition, poor use of a MWC could lead to accidents and injuries. Our team recently showed that people with ARSACS have lower MWC skills than other adults who use MWC, and that teaching MWC skills to people with ARSACS seems to work. Now we are ready to test the program with more people with ARSACS and MD1 to see how it can improve MWC mobility and confidence. We also want to hear about people's expectations and experiences with MWC training. People who take part in research will answer questions before and after WC training, and we will follow up with them 3 months later to ask again about their WC use.
This projects directly adresses the mobility needs of people with ARSACS and MD1 who use MWC. Our results may improve how therapists provide training for MWC use, which may improve mobility, participation, and quality of life for people with ARSACS and MD1. Learning just one MWC skill could be life-changing. It could mean the difference between leaving the house or not, which could impact the ability to shop for groceries, see friends, or to have a job.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •≥18 years of age, have a diagnosis of ARSACS or DM1, and use a manual WC for mobility (≥3 times/week for ≥8 hours/week).
Exclusion Criteria
- •anticipate a health condition or procedure that contraindicates training (e.g., surgery); or concurrently or planning to receive WC training during the study.
Arms & Interventions
Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP)
Standardized wheelchair skills training program.
Intervention: Wheelchair Skills Training Program (Behavioral)
Control
Wait-list control group where participants will receive usual care from their clinician.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q)
Time Frame: Baseline (T1); immediately post intervention up to 5 weeks after baseline (T2); 3-months follow-up (T3)
Subjective report of participants' perceived manual wheelchair skills (performance and frequency). The WST-Q comprises 30 discrete manual WC skills. Skills are scored on a scale ranging from 0 (cannot execute skill) to 3 (can execute skill with expertise); a total percentage score (0-100%) is calculated with higher scores representing greater wheelchair skills. The WST-Q can be completed in \~15 minutes, has strong psychometric properties in English and French, and has been used extensively in clinical trials. The WST-Q has been validated by the study team for ARSACS.
Secondary Outcomes
- Wheelchair Skills Test (WST)(Baseline (T1); immediately post intervention up to 5 weeks after baseline (T2); 3-months follow-up (T3))
- Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale (WheelCon)(Baseline (T1); immediately post intervention up to 5 weeks after baseline (T2); 3-months follow-up (T3))