Naomi Gefen, Philippe S Archambault, Amihai Rigbi, Patrice L Weiss
{"title":"Pediatric powered mobility training: powered wheelchair versus simulator-based practice.","authors":"Naomi Gefen, Philippe S Archambault, Amihai Rigbi, Patrice L Weiss","doi":"10.1080/10400435.2022.2084183","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants included 30 children and adolescents (23 males, 13 females) with cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular diseases, aged 6-18. Data were collected and compared at baseline and after 12 weeks of home-based practice via a powered wheelchair or a simulator. Powered mobility ability was determined by the Powered Mobility Program (PMP), the Israel Ministry of Health's Powered Mobility Proficiency Test (PM-PT) and the Assessment of Learning Powered Mobility (ALP).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All participants practiced for the required amount of time and both groups reported a similar user experience. Both groups achieved significant improvement following the practice period as assessed by the PMP and PM-PT assessments, with no significant differences between them. A significant improvement was found in the ALP assessment outcomes for the powered wheelchair group only.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This is the first study, to our knowledge, that compares two different wheelchair training methods. Simulator-based practice is an effective training option for powered mobility for children with physical disabilities aged 6-18 years old, demonstrating that it is possible to provide driving skill practice opportunities safe, controlled environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":51568,"journal":{"name":"Assistive Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2023-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Assistive Technology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2022.2084183","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2022/6/23 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"REHABILITATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Method: Participants included 30 children and adolescents (23 males, 13 females) with cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular diseases, aged 6-18. Data were collected and compared at baseline and after 12 weeks of home-based practice via a powered wheelchair or a simulator. Powered mobility ability was determined by the Powered Mobility Program (PMP), the Israel Ministry of Health's Powered Mobility Proficiency Test (PM-PT) and the Assessment of Learning Powered Mobility (ALP).
Results: All participants practiced for the required amount of time and both groups reported a similar user experience. Both groups achieved significant improvement following the practice period as assessed by the PMP and PM-PT assessments, with no significant differences between them. A significant improvement was found in the ALP assessment outcomes for the powered wheelchair group only.
Conclusions: This is the first study, to our knowledge, that compares two different wheelchair training methods. Simulator-based practice is an effective training option for powered mobility for children with physical disabilities aged 6-18 years old, demonstrating that it is possible to provide driving skill practice opportunities safe, controlled environments.
期刊介绍:
Assistive Technology is an applied, scientific publication in the multi-disciplinary field of technology for people with disabilities. The journal"s purpose is to foster communication among individuals working in all aspects of the assistive technology arena including researchers, developers, clinicians, educators and consumers. The journal will consider papers from all assistive technology applications. Only original papers will be accepted. Technical notes describing preliminary techniques, procedures, or findings of original scientific research may also be submitted. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Books for review may be sent to authors or publisher.