Abstract
Are seating and mobility services delivered through an international service learning (ISL) model effective at improving occupational performance of people with disabilities in low- to middle-income countries?
Primary Author and Speaker: Nathan Short
Additional Authors and Speakers: Patricia A. Henton, Emily Smitson, Anna Barg, Leah Baumgartner, Taporia Brown, Makayla Jurek, Kaitlyn Langbein
International service learning (ISL) is used to provide seating and mobility services in low and middle-income countries while also affording OT students valuable cross-cultural experience that may improve cultural competence (Short et al., 2020). However, there is limited outcomes research on the effectiveness of these initiatives on the occupational performance of in-country recipients of services. Furthermore, some research suggests that the provision of seating and mobility services using generic equipment that is not customized to the recipients’ individual needs and environment may actually be harmful (Mukherjee & Samanta, 2005). A more recent retrospective study using the Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WhOM) suggests that customized seating services provided by rehabilitation professionals may have a positive impact on occupational performance (Short et al., 2023). This prospective single cohort study involved the administration of the Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WHoM) on a sample (n=81) of individuals with disabilities in Guatemala prior to receiving seating and mobility services through an ISL model, and at 3 and 6-month intervals after receiving services. Data collected at the 3-month interval demonstrated a statistically significant (p<.05) improvement in the performance of in-home and out-of-home occupations with a huge effect size (d=3.13). The findings support the use of an ISL model to deliver seating and mobility services including education and training, provided by licensed rehabilitation professionals, to improve occupational performance for individuals with disabilities in low to middle-income countries. Each ISL initiative should be carefully planned with cultural humility in collaboration with in-country partners to ensure sustainability and long-term follow-up for recipients of services.
Mukherjee, G., & Samanta, A. (2005). Wheelchair charity: A useless benevolence in community-based rehabilitation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 27, 591–596.
Short, N., St. Peters, H.Y.Z., Almonroeder, T., Bolomope, G., Daller, K., Deaton, K., & Kreill, M. (2020). Long-term impact of cross-cultural service learning: Cultural competence revisited. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 4(1), 1–14.
Short, N., St Peters, H., Eckert, J., Grady, N., Mohr, E., & Weber, H. (2023). Impact of seating and mobility services for individuals with disabilities in El Salvador. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(4), 1–9.