Affiliations: [a] Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, Québec, Canada G1M 2S8 | [b] Département de réadaptation, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4 | [c] Direction des programmes des aides techniques, Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, Québec, Canada G1M 2S8 | [d] Research Centre on Aging, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 4C4 | [e] Département de médecine de famille, Faculté de médecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 5N4 | [f] Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation, Institut de réadaptation de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H3S 2J4 | [g] École de réadaptation, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H3C 3J7
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: François Routhier, Eng, MSc, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Intergration, 525, boul. Wifrid-Hamel est, Québec (Québec), Canada G1M 2S8. Tel.: +1 418 529 9141 (ext. 6256); Fax: +1 418 529 3548; E-mail: Francois.Routhier@rea.ulaval.ca.
Abstract: The Obstacle Course Assessment of Wheelchair User Performance (OCAWUP) is a new tool designed to assess and document manual and motorized wheelchair user mobility performance in controlled environmental situations which are standardized and potentially difficult. The instrument is designed to cover environmental obstacles that are related to daily wheelchair use. In this paper, we present the methodology and results of the content validity process regarding the choice of items (obstacles) and development of the scoring system. The methodology comprises three steps: 1) determining obstacle categories through a literature review, 2) determining obstacles through a focus group and individual interviews, and 3) developing the scoring system through a focus group and individual interviews. The content validation triangulates three data sources: literature, opinions of experts (wheelchair users, occupational therapists and researchers) and Canadian norms for home adaptation. Consensuses were reached on the choice of categories and items, and the scoring system. According to various experts, the obstacles are representative of those encountered in daily activities and social roles. It is expected that the OCAWUP could help clinicians in their interventions with wheelchair users to improve their social participation. Other studies should be conducted to obtain more information about its validity and reliability properties.
