Virtual Peer Coaching in Manual Wheelchair Skills

Improving Manual Wheelchair Skills Through Remote Training

The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of remote manual wheelchair skills training program. First, peer coaches will be enrolled and trained. Then, trainees will be enrolled into one of three interventions: intervention with remote feedback (Group 1), and a wait list control group (Group 2).

For peer coaches:

Coaches will complete the following measures:

• Demographic questionnaire (pre-training)
• Self-Efficacy on Assessing, Training, and Spotting (SEATS) (pre- and post-training)
• Feedback survey (post peer coaching)

Prior to coaching trainees, coaches will undergo three training programs as follows:

• Virtual training through zoom on peer mentoring
• Research ethics training
• Wheelchair skills training

It will be verified that peer coaches possess the needed skills by administering the SEATS following training. A score of 5 (completely confident) for each training item will be required to advance to the peer coaching sessions.

For peer coaching, coaches will lead six 1:1 virtual zoom meetings with each trainee they are matched with. Sessions may include goal setting, review of progress, instruction, and "homework" of prescribed content for trainees to review. For each training session coaches will complete a session log.

For trainees:

Baseline questionnaires will include:

• Demographic questionnaire
• Wheelchair setup questionnaire
• Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q)
• Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) (Group 1,3 only)
• Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique Short Form (CHART-SF) Mobility
• Life Space Assessment (LSA)
• Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS)
• Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES)
• Referral Source
• Wheelchair Skills Training Questionnaire (WST-Q)
• Wheelchair skills training outside of study

Group Specific Activities

Groups 1 and 2 will complete intervention A following baseline and 6-month assessments, respectively. They are not required to complete training in all skills, only to have at least 5 skills with relevant training goals.

Intervention Trainees will engage in 1:1 virtual zoom meetings facilitated by the study team scheduled weekly for 6 sessions with the opportunity for 2 makeup sessions. Sessions may include goal setting, review of progress, instruction, and "homework" of prescribed content for trainees to review. Participants may upload videos of themselves completing skills through Qualtrics to get feedback.

Skills targeted by the intervention -

1. opening/closing doors
2. picking up an object from the ground
3. getting over a gap
4. getting over a threshold
5. up a low curb
6. down a low curb
7. up a high curb
8. down a high curb
9. performing a stationary wheelie
10. up a steep incline
11. down a steep incline
12. getting up stairs
13. getting down stairs
14. uneven transfers
15. floor-to-chair transfer
16. folding and unfolding wheelchair

All participants will complete 2-month follow-up. This will include the following questionnaires:

Baseline questionnaires will include:

• Wheelchair setup questionnaire
• Wheelchair skills training outside of study survey
• Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q)
• Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) - group 1
• Feedback Survey - group 1 only

All participants will complete 6-month follow-up. This will include the following questionnaires:

• Wheelchair setup questionnaire
• Wheelchair skills training outside of study survey
• Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q)
• Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique Short Form (CHART-SF) Mobility
• Life Space Assessment (LSA)

Groups 2 will then cross-over to complete the intervention.

All participants will complete 8-month follow-up. This will include the following questionnaires:

• Wheelchair setup questionnaire
• Wheelchair skills training outside of study survey
• Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q)
• Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) - group 2 only
• Feedback Survey - group 2 only

All participants will complete 12-month follow-up. This will include the following questionnaires:

• Wheelchair setup questionnaire
• Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q)
• Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique Short Form (CHART-SF) Mobility
• Life Space Assessment (LSA)
• Wheelchair skills training outside of study

Follow-up windows will be within approximately 2 weeks before/after the follow-up date. Participants will be asked to select two preferred methods of contact for follow-up reminders that will be sent between timepoints.

Spotters are required for trainee participation in the study. Prior to the start of the study, spotters will be required to watch a series of training videos about safe spotting.

Inclusion Criteria:

Coaches:

• At least 18 years old
• Non-progressive SCI
• Able to speak and read English
• Reside in the community
• Independently use a manual wheelchair for at least 50% of mobility

Coaches with paraplegia:

- Able to complete all skills targeted by the intervention, except stair ascent, (WST-Q item scores 2) independently.

Coaches with tetraplegia:

- Able to complete all skills targeted by the intervention with or without assistance

Trainees:

• At least 18 years old
• Non-progressive SCI
• Able to speak and read English
• Reside in the community
• Independently use a manual wheelchair for 50% of mobility
• Access to an Internet-ready device with video capabilities.
• Access to a spotter for practicing wheelchair skills
• Desire training for at least 5 of the 16 skills targeted by the training program

Exclusion Criteria:

• none