Training Program to Modify Manual Wheelchairs to Simplified Power Wheelchairs for Community Dwelling Elderly People and Caregivers.
Suchitporn Lersilp, Supawadee Putthinoi, Theeratorn Lersilp and 2 others
PMID 35350128WHAT IT FOUND
Community-dwelling elderly people and caregivers, most with no wheelchair experience, successfully completed a 30-hour training to modify manual wheelchairs into simplified power ones.
Ninety-one percent demonstrated the modification independently after theory sessions.
Key findings
01Most participants (91.67%) were able to explain and demonstrate the modification of a manual wheelchair to a simplified power wheelchair without verbal cues after the theory session.
02Participants valued the fieldwork experience, which allowed them to evaluate wheelchairs for 17 community users and provide maintenance suggestions or adjustments.
03Participants requested organizational support and a system for continued connection after training, such as using social network applications, to sustain the service.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in specific suburban villages in Thailand, limiting generalizability to other contexts. Only one prototype was developed due to funding limitations, restricting the number of wheelchair users and areas covered in the fieldwork. Feedback from the end users (wheelchair owners) was not measured systematically. The study did not measure long-term outcomes or the actual impact on the quality of life of the wheelchair users.
Declared interests
The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were detailed beyond the general context of a research project.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this training program alone solves wheelchair service shortages. The study shows participants could perform modifications, but it does not prove improved patient outcomes or long-term sustainability without the organizational support and connection systems requested by the participants.