The research team is conducting a study to determine if a fall prevention program designed specifically for people who use wheelchairs and scooters can help people better prevent and manage falls compared to the standard of care. This study will compare two groups of participants: 1. One group will use the iROLL-O+ app, which offers personalized fall prevention tools and strategies. 2. The other group will receive fall prevention information from a well-known program developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), called STEADI, which stands for Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries. This study includes adults living with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) or Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who use a wheelchair or scooter every day. The research team aims to determine which approach is more effective in reducing falls and improving confidence in performing daily activities.
People living with SCI or MS who use wheelchairs and scooters (WC/S) full time often experience falls. In fact, 7 out of 10 report falling at least once every 6 to 12 months. These falls can lead to serious injuries and emotional distress, such as concerns about falling (CaF). Although falls are common among this population, most fall prevention programs are designed for people who can walk. There are very few programs designed for people who use WC/S. This study will test to see if a fall prevention and management program designed specifically for people who use WC/S does a better job at helping people learn how to prevent and manage falls compared to a program that is designed for older adults.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
120
The iROLL program is a 6-week fall prevention and management program for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis (MS) who use wheelchairs and scooters. The program's overall goals are to reduce fall frequency, improve functional mobility skills, decrease fear of falling, increase quality of life, and increase community participation. It uses many active learning strategies such as: goal setting, journaling, small group discussions, practicing skills, and homework to apply content to one's daily life.
The CDC's Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths \& Injuries (STEADI) initiative is a coordinated approach to fall prevention for older adults. It focuses on helping healthcare providers implement clinical fall prevention strategies, including screening for fall risk, assessing modifiable risk factors, and intervening to reduce risk.
Disability Participation and Quality of Life (DPQOL) Laboratory
Urbana, Illinois, United States
Functional Assessment of Currently Employed Technology Scale
Assesses how individuals with disabilities utilize currently available and assistive technologies in their everyday lives across five functional domains (Home, Social, E-commerce, Health Care, Technical). Subscale (Domain) Scoring: Each domain's subtotal ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more frequent use of technology. Interpretation categories: 0-2: Very Infrequent IT Use; 3-4: Infrequent IT Use; 5-6: Moderate IT Use; 7-8: Frequent IT Use; 9-10: Very Frequent IT Use Total FACETS Score: Ranges from 0 to 50 (sum of the five domain subtotals). Higher total scores = greater overall frequency of technology use. Interpretation categories: 0-14: Very Infrequent IT Use; 15-24: Infrequent IT Use; 25-34: Moderate IT Use; 35-44: Frequent IT Use; 45-50: Very Frequent IT Use
Time frame: Baseline
Fall Concerns Scale for Wheelchair and Scooter Users
Measures fear of falling and fall-related self-efficacy in individuals who use wheelchairs or scooters. The Fall Concerns Scale for Wheelchair and Scooter Users consists of 16 items, each rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = "not at all concerned" to 4 = "very concerned"). The total score ranges from 16 to 64, with higher scores indicating greater fear of falling and lower fall-related self-efficacy.
Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (Week 6 and Week 14)
Falls Prevention Strategies Survey
Captures the frequency and types of fall prevention behaviors or strategies participants use in their daily lives.
Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (Week 6 and Week 14)
The Fall Management Scale
Assesses participant confidence and preparedness in managing fall-related scenarios (e.g., recovery techniques, communication, and safety). Total scores range from 0 to 64. Higher scores indicate greater use of fall management strategies (better outcome).
Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (Week 6 and Week 14)
Fall Prevention and Management Questionnaire
A multi-dimensional tool that evaluates participants' knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes toward fall prevention and recovery.
Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (Week 6 and Week 14)
Community Participation Indicators Questionnaire
A self-report 48-item objective that measures two distinct subsets: 1\) Importance and meaning, and 2) Control over participation. This questionnaire assesses levels of community engagement, social interaction, and participation in everyday activities outside the home. Items are typically rated on a Likert scale and aggregated to produce subscale scores and a total participation score. Higher scores indicate greater community participation. Scores range between 0 and 1, where: 0 = no meaningful participation. 1 = full participation in all important activities
Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (Week 6 and Week 14)
Transfer Assessment Instrument Questionnaire
Measures participants' safety, technique, and confidence when transferring between surfaces (e.g., wheelchair to bed).
Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (Week 6 and Week 14)
Wheelchair Skills Test - Questionnaire
Self-reported version of the Wheelchair Skills Test assessing wheelchair handling and maneuvering capabilities.
Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (Week 6 and Week 14)
System Usability Scale
Evaluates participants' perceived usability of the iROLL-O+ mobile app - only for the intervention group. The SUS consists of 10 items, each scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0-4). The total raw score is converted to a 0-100 scale. Higher scores indicate better usability. A score of 68 is considered average usability; scores above 68 reflect above-average usability, while scores below 68 reflect below-average usability.
Time frame: Post-Intervention (Week 6)
Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire
Assesses perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and ease of use of a mobile app. - only for the intervention group
Time frame: Post-Intervention (Week 6)
Mobile App Rating Scale
Evaluates mobile app quality, including engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information content. - Only for the intervention group. The uMARS contains 20 items across four objective quality subscales (Engagement, Functionality, Aesthetics, Information). Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5). Subscale scores are averaged, and a total quality mean score can also be calculated. Higher scores indicate higher app quality.
Time frame: Post-Intervention (Week 6)
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