Feasibility of a Peer-Led Leisure Time Physical Activity Program for Manual Wheelchair Users Delivered Using a Smartphone

Abstract

Active living lifestyles for wheelchair users (ALLWheel) was developed to improve leisure time physical activity (LTPA). The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of the ALLWheel program. In a pilot pre-post design, 12 manual wheelchair users in three Canadian cities completed the ALLWheel program (containing 14 sessions over 10 weeks delivered by a peer using a smartphone). Feasibility indicators were collected for process, resources, management, and intervention—before, during, and after ALLWheel. Exploratory outcomes were collected for LTPA (primary outcome), motivation, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with autonomy support and goal attainment—at baseline, immediately following ALLWheel, and three months later. Feasibility was evaluated using a priori criteria for success (yes/no), and within-subjects comparisons were made to explore the change in exploratory outcomes. The participants were 48.9 ± 15.1 years of age and women (66.7%), and had spinal cord injury (41.7%) or multiple sclerosis (16.7%). Feasibility was achieved in 11 of 14 indicators, with suggestions to consider subjective reports of LTPA as the primary outcome in a future randomized controlled trial to overcome limitations with device-based measures and to use strategies to enhance recruitment. Mild-intensity LTPA and satisfaction with goal attainment improved after the completion of ALLWheel. With minor modifications, it is feasible that ALLWheel can be administered to wheelchair users by a peer using a smartphone.

Keywords

• leisure time physical activity
• manual wheelchair
• peers
• smartphone
• feasibility