Date Presented 03/22/24
The purpose of this rapid systematic review was to appraise literature related to the question: What is the effect of wheelchair skills training on increasing participation in occupations among wheelchair users as compared to standard of care?
Primary Author and Speaker: Brynn Seigel
Additional Authors and Speakers: Samantha Murtiff, Zoe Brubaker, Morgan Meier, Sarah McCoy
Contributing Authors: Tony Chase
PURPOSE: This rapid systematic review examines the literature on effective wheelchair skills training targeting occupational participation in full-time wheelchair users. Wheelchair users are often faced with the challenge of limited accessibility due to an onslaught of physical barriers in their environments.
DESIGN: In this rapid systematic review, we utilized research databases to determine the effect of wheelchair skills training and alternative training methods on participation among manual wheelchair users.
METHOD: The review authors conducted an electronic literature search on published intervention studies in PubMed and CINAHL. The search terms used by the review authors were manual wheelchair skills training AND participation OR independence. The inclusion criteria included manual wheelchair users, wheelchair skills training, occupational participation, and randomized controlled trials. The reviewers excluded all systematic reviews and meta-analyses, case studies, sports-related studies, and any studies published more than 10 years ago.
RESULTS: Findings show moderate strength of evidence for the use of wheelchair skills training in enhancing participation. 25 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. We identified five major themes regarding wheelchair skills training to increase participation: wheelchair skills training programs, transferring techniques, peer-led training programs, propulsion techniques, and other methods of skills training.
CONCLUSION: The articles presented in this study indicate moderately strong evidence to support the implementation of wheelchair skills training programs to increase overall participation and satisfaction with participation. Clinically, it is of great importance that practitioners recognize the importance and mechanism of wheelchair skills training. Using a variety of methods that best suit the needs of the client can show larger benefits to participation as well as other factors.
References
Smith, E. M., Sakakibara, B. M., & Miller, W. C. (2016). A review of factors influencing participation in social and community activities for wheelchair users. Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology, 11(5), 361–374. https://doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2014.9894 20
Morgan, K. A., Engsberg, J. R., & Gray, D. B. (2015). Important wheelchair skills for new manual wheelchair users: Health care professional and wheelchair user perspectives. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 12(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2015.1063015
