Investigation of the Effects of Independent Transfer Training

The objective of this research study is to 1) evaluate the effectiveness of web based transfer training materials for wheelchair users and 2) determine the reliability of a refined transfer assessment instrument (TAI) as completed by individuals who use wheelchairs for a majority of mobility and clinicians who score transfers in-person and remotely.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Wheelchair Transfers
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Transfer Training

Detailed Description

Up to 125 participants will be recruited for this study. Investigators will recruit individuals who use a wheelchair for a majority of mobility (>40 hours per week), who are over 18 years old, who do not have a history of heart or lung conditions that could become worse with up to 6 back and forth transfers to a mat table, and who can independently transfer to and from a surface within 30 seconds without use of their legs.

This study will require two visits that will take approximately 2 hours total to complete. Subjects will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires so that investigators can collect demographic information (i.e. age, race, diagnosis, date of diagnosis, handedness, and preferred leading arm for transfers), their weight, and information about arm pain. Physical exams qualifying shoulder and wrist pathology will also be completed. Subjects will then be asked to perform up to six back and forth transfers to a mat table.

Following this, subjects will be randomized into two groups; one group that will receive transfer training immediately, and one group that will receive the transfer training after the follow up visit (control).

Subjects in the immediate transfer training group will receive training about about proper transfer techniques. After training, they will then complete the repeated transfer portion of the protocol a second time. Subjects will be instructed to practice the new skills they learned and then return within 7 days to complete only the repeated transfer portion of the protocol.

Subjects in the delayed transfer training group will be instructed to return within 7 days. Subjects will complete the repeated transfer portion of the protocol a second time. Subjects will then receive training about proper transfer techniques and after complete the repeated transfer portion of the protocol a third time.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 94
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15206
      • University of Pittsburgh

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Over the age of 18
2. Utilizes a wheelchair for the majority of mobility (over 40 hours per week)
3. Ability to transfer independently (may use equipment)
4. Self-report ability to complete a transfer to and from a surface in 30 seconds
5. English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current or recent history (last 3 months) of pressure sores that may be exacerbated by multiple transfers
2. Active use of the lower limb muscles during transfers
3. Upper extremity pain that inhibits the ability to perform transfers or bear weight on the upper extremities
4. Other neurologic condition that could impair learning
5. History of heart or lung conditions that would be made worse by completing up to six back and forth transfers to a mat table

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Case; Transfer Training Subjects will be randomized to receive the transfer training either after baseline measures are collected (case) during visit 1.	Behavioral: Transfer Training; Transfer training interventions will take approximately 1 hour to complete and consist of an interactive web based module that participants interact with which includes text, pictures, videos and time to practice new skills. Additionally, participants will receive an educational handout summarizing the online module.
Other: Control; Transfer Training Subjects will be randomized to receive the transfer training during the follow-up testing at visit 2.	Behavioral: Transfer Training; Transfer training interventions will take approximately 1 hour to complete and consist of an interactive web based module that participants interact with which includes text, pictures, videos and time to practice new skills. Additionally, participants will receive an educational handout summarizing the online module.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Transfer Assessment Instrument (TAI) Scores	Transfer assessment instrument (TAI) scores will be collected both before and after the training to assess for changes in the score.	Baseline visit and visit 2 (which will occur within 7 days of baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Shoulder pain	A physical exam will be performed to qualify shoulder pain.	Baseline visit
Shoulder pathology	A physical exam will be performed to qualify shoulder pathology.	Baseline Visit
Wrist Pain	A physical exam will be performed to qualify wrist pain.	Baseline visit
Wrist pathology	A physical exam will be performed to qualify wrist pathology.	Baseline Visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
• Collaborators: Department of Health and Human Services
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michael Boninger, M.D., University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 2, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): February 18, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 16, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): May 19, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 6, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Training; Biomechanics; Transfer; Wheelchair
• Other Study ID Numbers: 15030691; H133N110011 (Other Grant/Funding Number: U.S. Department of Education)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: There is no plan to make individual participant data available to other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No