Updating the Montreal walking exoskeleton satisfaction and perspectives questionnaire (MWESP-Q) following a 16-week walking program with the use of a wearable robotic exoskeleton

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Vincent, Claude^{a; b; *} | Bass, Alec^{c; d} | Dumont, Frédéric S^b | Aubertin-Leheudre, Mylène^e | Karelis, Antony D^e | Morin, Suzanne N^f | McKerral, Michelle^{d; g} | Duclos, Cyril^{c; d} | Gagnon, Dany H^{c; d}

Affiliations: [a] School of Rehabiltiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada | [b] Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Québec, QC, Canada | [c] School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada | [d] Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR) of Greater Montreal, Centre Intégré, Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada | [e] Department of Exercise Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada | [f] Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada | [g] Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Claude Vincent, Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (Cirris), CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale site de l’Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, 525, boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel, Québec (Québec) G1M 2S8, Canada. Tel.: +1 418 529 9141 ext. 6626; E-mail: claude.vincent@rea.ulaval.ca.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Physical activity as one of the major lifestyle-related health determinants is partially addressed by the Montreal Walking Exoskeleton Satisfaction and Perspectives-Questionnaire (MWESP-Q). OBJECTIVE: To document satisfaction of people with chronic spinal cord injury after the completion of a 10 to 16 weeks of the wearable robotic exoskeleton-assisted walking program, with the MWESP-Q updated to a context of health promotion. METHODS: Following a walking program (10–16 weeks), wheelchair users with chronic SCI completed the MWESP-Q online. Modification of the original questionnaire was conducted with 4 experts to ensure its content validity with a human framework to promote physical activity for health. RESULTS: Ten wheelchair users completed the questionnaire (men = 6; 45.8 ± 13.4 years, SCI duration: 10.1 ± 5.8 years). Participants strongly agreed to be satisfied with the overall program; agreed to be satisfied towards exoskeleton, motivation to engage in physical activity, learnability and program attributes; rated “medium effort” for physical and cognitive exertion during training; reported light improvements for health benefit domain, but light to moderate improvements for general endurance (mean 5.5 /7, SD 1.4) and psychological well-being (mean 5.7 /7, SD 1.3). CONCLUSIONS: The updated MWESP-Q is now better equipped to measure physical and cognitive efforts in physical activity and changes in body and organic systems and in capabilities (health promotion). The updated MWESP-Q has 54 statements (14 additional statements and 1 deleted) organized around seven domains. The original measure was replaced by three 7-point Likert scales, one regarding agreement level (40 statements), level of effort (12 statements), and level of change (2 statements).

Keywords: Assistive technology, mobility device, robotic exoskeleton, paraplegia, physical activity, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-230031

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 36, no. 1-2, pp. 39-48, 2024