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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
A Standardized Obstacle Course for Assessment of Visual Function in Ultra Low Vision and Artificial Vision
Published on: February 11, 2014
Reliability and construct validity studies of an obstacle course assessment of wheelchair user performance
François Routhier1, Johanne Desrosiers, Claude Vincent
1Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Institut de Réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. Francois.Routhier@rea.ulaval.ca
Abstract:
The objective of this study is to evaluate the reliability and construct validity of an obstacle course assessment of wheelchair user performance (OCAWUP). Seventeen experienced wheelchair users using three different propulsion methods (two hands, one hand and one foot or motorized wheelchair) were assessed twice on the 10 obstacles of the OCAWUP. To evaluate reliability, time (in seconds) and degree of ease (DE) in overcoming obstacles (four-level scale) were assessed by three occupational therapists. Construct validity was assessed by verifying whether the OCAWUP's global score of ease (GSE) varied with wheelchair propulsion methods and the functional independence measure (FIM). Intraclass correlation coefficients calculated for reliability of time and GSE were up to 0.74 for test-retest reliability and up to 0.97 for interrater reliability. Cohen's kappa coefficients calculated for DE reliabilities varied from 0.09 to 1.0 with degrees of association up to 65%. A significant difference (P
