Proportion of Wheelchair Users Who Receive Wheelchair Skills Training During an Admission to a Canadian Rehabilitation Center

Objectives: To determine the proportion of wheelchair users who receive wheelchair skills training during an inpatient stay at a Canadian rehabilitation center. Methods: Each of 42 wheelchair-using inpatients completed a questionnaire within 72 hours of his or her expected discharge. Results: Twenty-three (54.8%) participants reported having received wheelchair skills training. The median number and duration of training sessions was five 30-minute sessions. None (0%) of the other 19 participants knew of arrangements to receive training after discharge. Conclusion: Only 54.8% of wheelchair-using people nearing discharge from a rehabilitation center reported that they had received wheelchair skills training.