A Remote-Learning Course can improve the subjective wheelchair-skills performance and confidence of wheelchair service providers: an observational cohort study.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that a Remote-Learning Course improves the subjective wheelchair-skills performance and confidence of wheelchair service providers, and to determine the participants' views on the Course. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study, with pre-post comparisons. To meet the objectives of the six-week Course, the curriculum included self-study and weekly one-hour remote meetings. Participants submitted their Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q) (Version 5.3.1) "performance" and "confidence" scores before and after the Course. Participants also completed a Course Evaluation Form after the Course. RESULTS: The 121 participants were almost all from the rehabilitation professions, with a median of 6 years of experience. The mean (SD) WST-Q performance scores rose from 53.4% (17.8) pre-Course to 69.2% (13.8) post-Course, a 29.6% relative improvement (p < 0.0001). The mean (SD) WST-Q confidence scores rose from 53.5% (17.9) to 69.5% (14.3), a 29.9% relative improvement (p < 0.0001). Correlations between performance and confidence were highly significant (p < 0.0001). The Course Evaluation indicated that most participants found the Course useful, relevant, understandable, enjoyable, "just right" in duration, and most stated that they would recommend the Course to others. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is room for improvement, a Remote-Learning Course improves the subjective wheelchair-skills performance and confidence scores of wheelchair service providers by almost 30%, and participants were generally positive about the Course.

A Remote-Learning Course improves the subjective wheelchair-skills performance and confidence scores of wheelchair service providers by almost 30%.Participants were generally positive about the Course.