Exploring the Influence of a Novel Application for Training and Evaluating Walking Implementation of an App-based Walking Aid Skills Training Program Aid Skills in Walking Aid Users: A Protocol for a Pragmatic Single-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (2) locations...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Walking aids (WA), such as crutches, canes, and walkers allow individuals to move independently after lower body impairment. Improper WA use may lead to upper body discomfort, pain, or injury. Improper WA use has been associated with increased risk of falls, which may result in traumatic brain injury or even death. WA-related accidents and injuries may not only affect an individual patient's quality of life; they may also increase healthcare system resource use and caregiver burden. WA-related injuries may be preventable if WA are properly fit and sufficient training is provided to the WA user. Smartphone applications (apps) are widely used technologies that have been used to improve health outcomes in populations of healthy and chronically ill individuals. We have developed an app that can be used to teach WA users how to properly fit and use their devices. This app is called Improving Canadians' Walking Aid skills, Learning, and Knowledge (ICanWALK©). The development of the Walking Aids Skills Test© (WAST©) allows for the objective measurement of how well an individual uses their walking aid. It is important to develop such a measurement in order to see whether interventions such as mobile applications change a walking aid user's ability to walk with their device. This 12-item objective evaluation measures the ability of an individual to use their walking aid in different settings, while picking up an object off the ground, navigating stairs, or encountering terrains such as gravel or grass. Three hypotheses will be explored through this clinical trial. Hypothesis 1: Patients who use the ICanWALK© app will have improved balance confidence compared to the control group. Hypothesis 2: Patients who use the ICanWALK© app will have improved balance, improved mobility, less pain, and fewer falls compared to the control group. Hypothesis 3: The WAST© will have an inter-rater reliability of 70% (k=0.85).

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 99
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• patient at a study site currently using walking aids \>75% of their ambulatory time

• age 18-99

Locations
Other Locations
Canada
Foothills Medical Centre
RECRUITING
Calgary
CIRRIS
COMPLETED
Québec
Contact Information
Primary
Ranita Manocha, MD, MSc
ranita.manocha@ucalgary.ca
403-944-4224
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-06-01
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-06-01
Participants
Target number of participants: 52
Treatments
Active_comparator: Control Group
Breathing Skills App
Experimental: Experimental Group
ICanWALK© App
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Collaborators: CIRISS, Alberta Health services, Laval University
Leads: University of Calgary

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov