Using remote learning to teach clinicians manual wheelchair skills: a cohort study with pre- vs post-training...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Clinical Education
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Manual wheelchair skills are crucial for user independence and are a key component of wheelchair provision.
• Traditional training methods for clinicians often lack resources and structured curricula, creating barriers to effective wheelchair skills instruction.
• Remote learning presents a viable alternative to traditional training, offering flexibility and expert feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of remote learning in teaching manual wheelchair skills to clinicians.
• To assess the impact of remote training on clinicians' capacity, confidence, and knowledge regarding wheelchair skills.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving physical and occupational therapists and students, utilizing a hybrid remote learning model.
• Intervention included self-study, hands-on practice, and asynchronous remote feedback on manual wheelchair skills.
• Outcomes measured via the Wheelchair Skills Test Questionnaire (WST-Q) for capacity and confidence, and a Knowledge Test.

Main Results:

• Participants showed significant improvements in WST-Q capacity (73.9 vs 16.8, p < 0.001) and confidence (80.1 vs 47.6, p = 0.003) post-training.
• Knowledge scores also increased significantly (70.8 vs 67.0, p = 0.004) after the remote learning intervention.
• Video recordings confirmed skill achievement, and participant feedback was positive.

Conclusions:

• Remote learning is an effective method for enhancing wheelchair skills capacity, confidence, and knowledge among rehabilitation professionals.
• This remote training model holds promise for improving the delivery of essential wheelchair skills education.
• Further investigation into remote learning as a primary delivery method for rehabilitation professional training is warranted.