Virtual Reality for Power Wheelchair Training

NCT03562455 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PRO18010297
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of VRSim 3.0 on power wheelchair (PWC) driving skills and to obtain qualitative feedback from users on the design of the virtual reality (VR) simulator to inform device development.

Conditions

Spinal Diseases

Keywords

Virtual Reality; Wheelchairs

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Power Wheelchair Driving Skill

  Power wheelchair driving skills will be evaluated using the Power Mobility Clinical Driving Assessment (PMCDA). The PMCDA contains 23 questions related to specific power wheelchair driving tasks. Each task will be given a score from 1 to 3; a score of 1 will be given if the driver requires physical assistance or cannot complete the task, a score of 2 will be given if the driver requires verbal or auditory hints or cues, but no physical assistance, and a score of 3 will be given if the driver completes the task without help. Scores will be added together for a possible total from 23 to 69.

  This outcome measure will be assessed at each of 4 training sessions, which may take up to one year to complete.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Perception of Virtual Reality Training System

  This outcome measure will be assessed at the completion of the study, which may take up to one year to complete.

• Simulator Sickness

  This outcome measure will be assessed at the beginning and end of 4 training sessions, which may take up to one year to complete.

• Perceived Workload of Training

  This outcome measure will be assessed at each of 4 training sessions, which may take up to one year to complete.

• Power Wheelchair Driving Capacity

  This outcome measure will be measured at the beginning and end of the study, which may take up to one year to complete.

Study Arms (2)

Virtual Reality Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive virtual reality power wheelchair training using VRSim 3.0 in this group.

Other: VRSim 3.0

In-person Therapist Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive in-person wheelchair training by a therapist in this group.

Behavioral: In-Person Wheelchair Training

Interventions

VRSim 3.0 OTHER

VRSim 3.0 is a virtual reality training module.

Virtual Reality Training

In-Person Wheelchair Training BEHAVIORAL

A therapist will be used to train power wheelchair users.

In-person Therapist Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Volunteers must be 14 years or older.
• Volunteers must have a disability that prevents them from effectively and independently using a manual wheelchair, power assist wheelchair, or scooter.
• Volunteers must be able to communicate in English, follow simple commands, and give written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Volunteers with active seizures.
• Volunteers who have active pelvic or thigh wounds.
• Volunteers who require a test wheelchair but who exceed the weight capacity of the test wheelchair (\>300 lbs).
• Volunteers who require a test wheelchair but also require specialized seating that cannot be replicated for the training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pittsburgh: lead

Study Sites (1)

Human Engineering Research Laboratories

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15206, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spinal Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• Brad E Dicianno, MD

  University of Pittsburgh

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The individual assessing performance outcomes will not be aware of which intervention the participants received.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: The study will contain two arms. One group will receive virtual reality power wheelchair training, and the other will receive in-person wheelchair training by a therapist.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2018
• First Posted: June 19, 2018
• Study Start: June 19, 2018
• Primary Completion: August 2, 2019
• Study Completion: August 2, 2019
• Last Updated: August 9, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)