Development of a wheelchair skills home program for older adults using a participatory action design approach.

ABSTRACT: Restricted mobility is the most common impairment among older adults and a manual wheelchair is often prescribed to address these limitations. However, limited access to rehabilitation services results in older adults typically receiving little or no mobility training when they receive a wheelchair. As an alternative and novel approach, we developed a therapist-monitored wheelchair skills home training program delivered via a computer tablet. To optimize efficacy and adherence, principles of self-efficacy and adult learning theory were foundational in the program design. A participatory action design approach was used to engage older adult wheelchair users, care providers, and prescribing clinicians in an iterative design and development process. A series of prototypes were fabricated and

SUBMITTER: Giesbrecht EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4167954 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature