Knowledge, Capacity, and Frequency of Performance of Wheelchair Maintenance Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

To evaluate the knowledge, capacity, and performance related to wheelchair maintenance in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as to determine which aspects of capacity and performance exhibited the most significant deficits. The secondary objective was to identify which participant characteristics were associated with a lower level of wheelchair maintenance knowledge, capacity, and performance.

Cross-sectional.

Community.

Manual (MWC; n=76) and power wheelchair (PWC; n=89) users with SCI (N=165).

Not applicable.

Separate analysis was completed for MWC and PWC users using the Wheelchair Maintenance Training Questionnaire (WMT-Q) knowledge, capacity (ability to complete), and performance (frequency of completion) domains.

There was a large variability in scores for knowledge (MWC=34.0% [SD=19.0]; PWC=40.5% [SD=15.5]), capacity (MWC=59.8% [SD=29.5]; PWC=58.6% [SD=25.1]), and performance (MWC=51.8% [SD=30.8]; PWC=51.7% [SD=26.2]) among participants. For MWC users, the maintenance items with the lowest performance were checking spokes, the cross brace, weld points, wheel alignment, and wheel and caster bearing. For PWC users, the lowest performance items were cleaning the power seat functions and checking tire pressure, shrouds, casters for flutter, and motor disengage levers. Contacting a maintenance expert had the highest performance for both groups. For all participants, those with >5 years of wheelchair use demonstrated greater knowledge (+7.19%), capacity (+11.78%), and performance (+12.10%). Women reported lower capacity (-15.54) and performance (-12.45) than men for all participants (MWC and PWC users, combined).

This study highlights gaps in wheelchair maintenance knowledge, capacity, and performance among individuals with SCI. Specific maintenance tasks demonstrated larger deficits in capacity and performance and may represent critical targets for wheelchair maintenance training programs. Participant characteristics including shorter duration of wheelchair use and female sex were associated with lower WMT-Q scores, suggesting that earlier and more inclusive training may be beneficial.