Want to Improve Manual Wheelchair Skills? Take Part in a Paid Virtual Study
The University of Pittsburgh is conducting a research study to determine the effectiveness of virtual peer coaching in manual wheelchair skills.
This study will include virtual 1:1 training sessions targeted at improving your wheelchair skills. Study activities include:
Six, weekly peer coaching sessions via Zoom to improve wheelchair skills
Access to a library of wheelchair skills training videos
Completion of questionnaires before and after training
You will be compensated up to $75 for completing peer coaching sessions and $125 for completing questionnaires.
You may be eligible to participate if you:
Are at least 18 years old
Have a non-progressive spinal cord injury (SCI)
Are able to speak and read English
Reside in the community
Use a manual wheelchair for at least 50% of your mobility
Have access to an internet-ready device with video capabilities
Have access to a spotter for practicing wheelchair skills
Desire training in at least 5 of the 16 skills included in the study:
Skills you will work on include:
1. Opening/closing doors
2. Picking up an object from the ground
3. Getting over a gap
4. Getting over a threshold
5. Up a low curb
6. Down a low curb
7. Up a high curb
8. Down a high curb
9. Stationary wheelie
10. Up a steep incline
11. Down a steep incline
12. Getting up stairs
13. Getting down stairs
14. Uneven transfers
15. Floor-to-chair transfer
16. Folding/unfolding wheelchair
If you are interested in learning more about this study, visit https://tinyurl.com/mwcpeercoaching or contact the study coordinator at (412)-232-9326 or tempestml@upmc.edu