Objective

Use of a power wheelchair (PW) can improve quality of life and participation in individuals with mobility impairments. PW skills training is generally seen as insufficient by both clinicians and PW users. A virtual reality (VR) simulator may be helpful in improving PW driving skills, when used in addition to regular training. In previous work, challenging PW driving activities have been identified through interviews with expert clinicians and PW users and were then integrated in the McGill immersive wheelchair simulator (miWe). Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR simulator training, delivered through a home program on real PW driving skills.

Materials/patients and methods

The miWe simulator included six PW driving activities (adapted bathroom, shopping center, supermarket, elevator, street crossing and adapted transport vehicle). A computer with a joystick was installed in the participant’s home. Participants (new PW users) were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group. Those in the experimental group were asked to practice all six-simulator activities for at least 20 minutes every two days, over a two-week period. Participants in the control group were asked to practice on a racing videogame, for an equivalent amount of time as the experimental group. We compared wheelchair-driving skills as measured by the wheelchair skills test (WST), before and after the intervention.

Results

Preliminary analyses were made on the 35 participants who completed the study. All practiced on the simulator or computer game at least twice as much as what was minimally required. Results indicate that the WST scores in the experimental group increased by 6% on average, compared to 3% in the control group. Feedback regarding ease of use and potential usefulness of the PW simulator was very positive.

Discussion/conclusion

Our preliminary results show that miWe simulator training may slightly improve wheelchair skills as compared to training with a racing videogame. A PW simulator may be helpful to new users if it promotes the practice of activities in specific environmental contexts to complement the basic skills training received in the clinic.