2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Individuals who use wheelchairs are at an increased risk of developing pressure injuries on the parts of the body that are in constant contact with the wheelchair. The development of pressure injuries can cause reduced mobility, reduced activity and participation, greater unemployment, increased risk for future pressure injury development, and premature death. There are numerous risk factors associated with developing pressure injuries. Individuals can reduce the risk of pressure injury formation by changing positions, weight-shifting, and using special cushions, but many people still struggle with pressure injuries. This study is designed to assess the clinical effectiveness of WiSAT (Wheelchair in-Seat Activity Tracker). WiSAT is a tool designed to help prevent the development of pressure ulcers by changing behaviors that can lead to pressure ulcers. WiSAT monitors and provides real-time feedback on weight shifts and pressure relief behaviors while sitting in a wheelchair.
During typical daily activity, people with established spinal cord injury perform significantly fewer pressure-relief maneuvers than the recommended frequency while overestimating their adherence on recall surveys of pressure relief activity. The rate of pressure ulcer recurrence in individuals with a prior ulcer is 44% in those with surgical repair and as high as 75% in those with non-surgical healing indicating that increased attention to pressure relief is critical for these individuals.This study will evaluate the efficacy of a wheelchair sensor and app-based biofeedback for establishing healthy self-management behaviors (pressure relief maneuvers and daily physical activity). Investigators will enroll 50 participants with paraplegia from spinal cord injury who use a manual wheelchair for mobility and have a history of pressure ulcer that has healed or is six months post-surgical repair. Participants will be randomized into one of two groups: an intervention group that will receive an education intervention and the proposed technology to be used for one year, and a control group that will receive only the education intervention. The primary outcome will be pressure ulcer occurrence over one year. Investigators hypothesize that participants receiving the intervention of biofeedback on their pressure relief activity will have a lower recurrence of pressure ulcer than the education only control group. Secondary outcomes include depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, participation and satisfaction with life. Investigators hypothesize that increasing physical activity will reduce depressive symptoms and improve participation and satisfaction with life.