To provide wheelchairs and wheelchair training to CWD, and their caregivers, to assess the effect of wheelchair delivery on mobility and caregiver burden to identify solutions to address the lack of wheelchairs in Uganda.
Cohort study consisting of thirty-five non-ambulatory children in Uganda were measured and fit for a Rough Rider wheelchair or a refurbished specialized pediatric wheelchair based on their hip width and trunk control followed by wheelchair training. Outcome measures pre- and post- wheelchair delivery included the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), Smiley Faces Assessment, Pediatric Quality of Life survey (PedsQL), and Picture my Participation (PmP).
PEDI scores and smiley faces assessment values demonstrated statistically significant improvements. Data collected from the PedQL and PmP was not statistically significant, but revealed increased participation and reduced caregiver burden.
Findings indicate that mobility and caregiver assistance improved, and children also demonstrated improved happiness following wheelchair delivery. Moving forward, the Ugandan Wheelchair Project would like to consider using the PEDI-UG as an outcome for CWD. All project stakeholders hope to progress the training of Ugandans towards independence in wheelchair delivery and education. The project would also be interested in serving individuals in all nine of OWH’s medical facilities, instead of only in the Masindi Medical Center. Leaders of the project are also investigating the possibility of using a new developed pediatric wheelchair that is being manufactured in Uganda. This opportunity has potential to create an in-country supply chain that would improve wheelchair access and be more financially sustainable. Lastly, the Ugandan Wheelchair Project plans to seek funding to support the collection of longitudinal participatory data of children and adults who experience improved mobility following wheelchair delivery.
The value of experiential learning opportunities is that they are a vital way to increase providers in low resource countries as well as provide physical therapy students and residents skills in wheelchair seating and mobility, communication, adaptive assistive technology and patient education. This project also contributes to the training of Ugandans to improve the provisioning of wheelchairs in Uganda to CWD and strives to increase the sustainability of the project.
wheelchairs
education
