NCT06294834

Improving Clinician Capacity to Provide Interventions for Manual Wheelchair Users

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 235 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of remote manual wheelchair skills training program for clinicians. The study will use three-group approach: intervention with remote feedback (Group 1), control group (Group 2), and structured self-study (Group 3). This demonstrates how the intervention compares not only to a control, but also to the next "best alternative" - therapists sourcing web-based training materials and learning independently.

Detailed description

A randomized, single-blinded, two-period cross-over study design for Groups 1 and 2 will be used. Participants will complete baseline assessments and then be randomized to either Group 1 or Group 2. After enrollment for Groups 1 and 2 is completed, Group 3 participants will be enrolled. Group 1 will receive the active intervention (intervention A) which will include a two-part training in wheelchair skills. For Part 1, they will review approximately 4 hours of educational videos on how to complete and teach wheelchair skills. For Part 2 they will complete a practice-feedback loop with a remote trainer providing asynchronous feedback. Group 3 will mirror Group 1 but complete only Part 1 of the training. Group 2 will receive the control intervention (intervention B) participants will review approximately 4 hours of educational videos. Participants will have 8 weeks to complete either training program. Both groups will then complete follow-up at 2 and 6 months. Following this, participants will cross over to receive the other intervention (Group 1 and 3 will receive intervention B, Group 2 will receive intervention A) and complete follow-up at 8 and 12 months. Additionally, rehabilitation professionals who are not therapists will be able to access the training through a structured self-study (Group 4). This group will receive access to both trainings with follow-up at 2 and 6 months.

Conditions

• Paraplegia
• Paralysis, Legs

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Part 1 of intervention A - Wheelchair skills training modules	Clinicians will review a suite of training videos in a prescribed order that discuss motor learning principles, safe spotting, and how to complete 15 intermediate and advanced skills: 1. Opening/closing doors 2. getting over a gap 3. getting over a threshold 4. ascending a low curb 5. descending a low curb 6. ascending a high curb 7. descending a high curb 8. performing a stationary wheelie 9. descending a high curb in a wheelie position 10. descending a steep incline in a wheelie position and stopping 11. ascending stairs 12. descending stairs 13. completing a floor-to-chair transfer 14. car transfers 15. folding and unfolding wheelchair
OTHER	Part 2 of intervention A - Asynchronous feedback from a remote trainer	Participants will practice of wheelchair skills paired with remote feedback. Participants will be reminded to practice once per week. The participant will practice any number of the 15 skills for a self-selected duration. Following each practice session, the participant will upload video(s) of the skills practiced and a session log, indicating any difficulties they encountered. The remote trainer will then review the video-recordings and reply to the participant with feedback.
OTHER	Intervention B: Education on wheelchair provision	Participants will be provided with access to web-based wheelchair provision education modules. When the content is viewed will be self-selected by participants. Participants will be asked to complete a feedback survey at the end of the modules. Participants will receive weekly reminders to complete the intervention until a feedback survey completed.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-02-22
• Primary completion: 2026-08-30
• Completion: 2026-12-30
• First posted: 2024-03-06
• Last updated: 2025-10-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States