How does wheelchair use in VA Extended-Care Facilities Affect Safety, Participation, and Quality of Life?

Principal Investigator: Diane Collins, PhD

Co-Investigators: Rory A. Cooper, PhD; Hisaichi Ohnabe, PhD; Amol Karmarkar, MS, OT/L; Annmarie Kelleher, MS, OTR/L, ATP; Rosemarie Cooper, MPT, ATP, and Dan Ding, PhD

Funding Source: VA CPPF

Objectives

This pilot study proposes to investigate safety, mobility, and quality of life by comparing veterans, aged 60 years or older, who reside in VA-affiliated extended-care facilities (ECFs) and use power wheelchairs to residents 60 years or older who use manual wheelchairs. Compared to manual wheelchair use, use of power wheelchairs is hypothesized to decrease wheelchair-related incidents and result in improvements in participation and overall quality of life of residents in the extended-care facilities.

Research Design

A prospective study is proposed to compare two groups of individuals who currently use wheelchairs, 25 individuals who use power wheelchairs will be matched to 25 individuals who use manuals wheelchairs.

Methodology

Members of both groups will be assessed three times, in a period of up to three months over the one-year study in the outcomes of: wheelchair-related incidences, injuries sustained from wheelchair-related falls, frequency and distance traveled in wheelchairs, and resident satisfaction with wheelchair performance and comfort. Participants who use power wheelchairs will be matched to participants using manual wheelchairs on the variables of: ECF length of stay, age, gender and disability type (i.e., progressive vs. non-progressive). Once consented, study participants will be assessed in frequency of wheelchair-related incidents, level of mobility, physical function, and quality of life. Duration of participation in the study for each resident will be three months, with all the assessment being performed in three separate visits at time intervals of: baseline, six weeks after enrollment and at the end of three months.

Clinical Significance

Injuries and expenses associated with wheelchair-related falls are persistent problems, particularly in ECF, with increasing number of veterans using wheelchairs for ambulation. The outcomes from this study will be helpful to develop interventions to reduce wheelchair-related tips and falls.