RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of custom seating and mobility services provided via an international service learning (ISL) model on the occupational performance of individuals with disabilities in Guatemala. A one-group prospective pretest-posttest design was implemented using the standardized Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WhOM - Spanish) administered on the day of wheelchair fitting, and at 3- and 6-month intervals after receiving seating and mobility services. A two-tailed t-test demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.001) improvement in satisfaction for in-home and out-of-home occupations for all participants (n = 71) at 3-months with a huge effect size (d > 2) and this improvement was maintained at the 6-month interval. The results were consistent for various areas of occupational performance (e.g. activities of daily living). The provision of customized seating and mobility services by occupational therapists through an ISL model demonstrated effectiveness at improving satisfaction with occupational performance for individuals with disabilities in Guatemala. Cultural humility, customization of equipment based on personal and environmental factors, inclusion of education and training, and collaboration with in-country partners were identified as contributors to positive outcomes.
Custom seating and mobility services provided by licensed occupational therapists via an international service learning (ISL) model demonstrated a significant improvement on the occupational performance of individuals with disabilities in Guatemala.The customization of equipment based on environmental and personal factors and the provision of education and training were identified as contributors to positive outcomes.Rehabilitation services delivered using an ISL model should be developed and implemented with cultural humility in collaboration with in-country partners.
RESUMO
IMPORTANCE: Outcomes research on the impact of seating and mobility services delivered using a short-term medical mission (STMM) model is limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of seating and mobility services on the occupational performance of individuals with disabilities in El Salvador. DESIGN: One-group retrospective pretest-posttest. SETTING: Clinical (El Salvador). PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with disabilities in El Salvador. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Survey and the standardized Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WhOM) for those who received a wheelchair as their mobility device. METHOD: Participants rated satisfaction with performance of preferred in-home and out-of-home occupations on the WhOM before and after receiving seating and mobility services. RESULTS: For most survey questions assessing the impact on activities of daily living, more than 86% of the respondents selected agree or strongly agree. Nearly half of the respondents reported that questions regarding work and education were not applicable. Participants' WhOM scores (n = 86) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in performance satisfaction for both in-home (p < .001; d > 1) and out-of-home (p < .001; d > 1) occupations after they received services, with a huge effect size (d > 2). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings suggest that seating and mobility services provided by rehabilitation professionals in El Salvador improved occupational performance for people with disabilities. Compared with STMMs that solely provide equipment, the findings emphasize the importance of professional service provision with education and training as best practice. What This Article Adds: Seating and mobility services delivered through a STMM model may improve occupational performance for individuals with disabilities. However, STMMs should be carefully planned in collaboration with in-country partners, provide customized seating systems, and include education and training from licensed rehabilitation professionals.
Assuntos
Pessoas com Deficiência , Tecnologia Assistiva , Cadeiras de Rodas , Humanos , Atividades Cotidianas , El Salvador , Estudos Retrospectivos , Pessoas com Deficiência/reabilitaçãoRESUMO
The purpose of this study is to critically analyze the perceived impact of seating and mobility services, provided by occupational therapists using an ISL model, from the perspective of the recipients of services in Peru. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was implemented using a survey that was developed based on areas of occupation outlined by the OTPF-4, translated into Spanish, and administered by an in-country partner via SurveyMonkey. More than 85% of respondents (n = 133) indicated they "agree" or "strongly agree" that receiving services had an overall positive impact on their life, ability to complete ADLs, social interaction, community mobility and participation, overall health, and sense of confidence and well-being; responses were generally "neutral" regarding impact on employment and education. The results support the potential of collaborative ISL, specific to the provision of seating and mobility, to improve occupational performance from the perspective of service recipients in Peru.