Pressure Relief Education and Training for Wheelchair Users

Wake Forest University Health Sciences9 enrolled

Overview

There can be barriers for clients with progressive disorders who are power wheelchair users and their caregivers that prohibit them from performing pressure relief. Clients may struggle with consistent performance of pressure relief and may not recall the importance, have methods to perform, or be able to perform due to weakness or other disease changes.

Study the population of power wheelchair users with progressive disorders at the Neurology Specialty Care - Edgehill, Carolina Neuromuscular Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/ Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Center to identify barriers, provide potential solutions, and provide education and training to both increase knowledge and understanding of pressure relief options and processes as well as to overcome these perceived barriers amongst the clinic population. Current adults of the Neurology Specialty Care practice who are complex power wheelchair users will be eligible for this project as an extension of usual care.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Pressure Area

Interventions

education and trainingBEHAVIORAL

education and training at a regularly scheduled occupational therapy clinic visit will be performed with handouts, verbal education, hands-on training, and video training

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult 18 years or older * Diagnosis of a progressive disorder (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), muscular dystrophy (MD), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Parkinson disease (PD) * Current clinic client at the Neurology Specialty Care Edgehill clinic * Currently using a complex (group 3) power wheelchair with power positioning of at least tilt/recline * Currently sitting in the chair at least 2 consecutive hours/day Exclusion Criteria: * Dementia as noted by Medical Doctor / speech-language pathologists (SLP) in medical records * Inability/unwillingness to control wheelchair power features (client) * Unwillingness to be monitored, educated, trained by study staff * Uses other mobility devices indoors (scooter, basic power wheelchair) more than complex power wheelchair * Further exclusions may be added in future protocol versions

Locations (1)

Carolinas Neuromuscular ALS/MDA Center

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Likert Pain Scale Scores

0: Relaxed and comfortable. 1 to 3: Mild discomfort. 4 to 6: Moderate pain. 7 to 10: Severe discomfort/pain - higher scores equaling more discomfort/pain

Time frame: Baseline

Likert Pain Scale Scores

0: Relaxed and comfortable. 1 to 3: Mild discomfort. 4 to 6: Moderate pain. 7 to 10: Severe discomfort/pain - higher scores equaling more discomfort/pain

Time frame: Week 4

Standard Staging for any Pressure Injuries

Stage 1 pressure injuries are not open wounds Stage 2 pressure injuries are open wounds Stage 3 pressure injuries extend through the skin into deeper tissue and fat but do not reach muscle, tendon, or bone Stage 4 pressure injuries extend to muscle, tendon, or bone Higher scores equaling worse condition

Time frame: Baseline

Standard Staging for any Pressure Injuries

Time frame: Week 4

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.