IntroductionWheelchair users worldwide are at high risk of developing secondary health conditions and premature death due to inappropriate wheelchair provision by untrained providers. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) has developed a Hybrid Course based on the World Health Organization’s Wheelchair Service Training Package—Basic Level. The Hybrid Course leverages online modules designed for low-bandwidth internet access that reduces the in-person training exposure from five to three and a half days, making it less expensive and more convenient for both trainees and trainers.MethodsThe Hybrid Course was designed using a systematic approach guided by an international group of stakeholders. The development followed the Quality Matters Higher Educational Rubric, web design guidelines for low bandwidth, experts’ opinions, and the best practices for blended course design. A quasi-experimental approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hybrid Course taken by six graduate students in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh by measuring pre- and post knowledge using the validated ISWP Wheelchair Service Provision—Basic Test. The outcome measure was assessed using a paired sample t-test between pretest and posttest scores. The quality of the Hybrid Course was evaluated by three external reviewers using the Quality Matters Higher Educational Rubric who were blind to each others’ evaluation and the results of the training intervention.ResultsHybrid Course participants reported significant increases in scores on the ISWP Wheelchair Service Provision—Basic Test after participating in the training, with an average increase of 10.84±5.42, p = 0.004, Cohen’s d = 1.99. In addition, the Hybrid Course met the Quality Matters Standards in two out of three evaluations and reported a percentage of agreement between evaluators of 84%.ConclusionsThe Hybrid Course met quality standards and proved to be effective in increasing basic level wheelchair knowledge in a group of Rehabilitation Science graduate students.

Purpose: Currently, there is no internationally accepted way to measure the competency of wheelchair service professionals. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals aims to develop a Wheelchair Service Provision -Basic Test as a preliminary step towards establishing a certification process. Method: A team of wheelchair service provision experts developed test questions and conducted alpha and beta testing in order to validate them. Low-performing test items were eliminated. A pilot test was then conducted, which focused on developing a pass score, determining language barriers and validating the test as a measure of competency. Results: 90 participants completed one of three versions of the Wheelchair Service Provision -Basic Test. A pass score of 70% was established and 135 questions were accepted for the final test. Analysis of variance indicated there was a difference in scores based on language (p ¼ 0.001), but not based on experience level. This result motivated translation in to the United Nations' official languages. Conclusions: The results indicate that the Wheelchair Service Provision -Basic Test is a valid method for measuring basic competency of wheelchair professionals. Additionally, researchers recommend a skills assessment to help to ensure only qualified wheelchair professionals receive the certificate. ä IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONIdentify key steps in contextually appropriate test development. Describe the components of a contextually appropriate, reliable, and valid test for basic wheelchair service provision. Identify methods used for contextually appropriate test validation. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Pressure injuries are costly to the healthcare system and mostly preventable, yet incidence rates remain high. Recommendations for improved care and prevention of pressure injuries from the Joint Commission revolve around continuous monitoring of prevention protocols and prompts for the care team. The E-scale is a bed weight monitoring system with load cells placed under the legs of a bed. This study investigated the feasibility of the E-scale system for detecting and classifying movements in bed which are relevant for pressure injury risk assessment using a threshold-based detection algorithm and a K-nearest neighbor classification approach. The E-scale was able to detect and classify four types of movements (rolls, turns in place, extremity movements and assisted turns) with > 94% accuracy. This analysis showed that the E-scale could be used to monitor movements in bed, which could be used to prompt the care team when interventions are needed and support research investigating the effectiveness of care plans.