Enabled to Stand: A Single-subject Research Design Study Exploring Pediatric Power Wheelchair Standing Device Use

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the influence of powered wheelchair standing device (PWSD) use on changes in activity/participation in children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Methods: A mixed methods A-B-A single-subject research design was replicated with participants. The target behavior was parental perceptions of changes in children’s performance of activity/participation goals measured via the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Secondary outcome measures included the COPM with children, an interview, and a 3-measure implementation survey. COPM data related to the target behavior were analyzed using the split-middle celeration line method. Results: Four child-parent dyads participated in the study. All participants achieved statistically and clinically significant increases in COPM performance ratings for the 5 parent-identified activity/participation goals. Conclusions: For the participant dyads in this study, use of the PWSD appeared to positively influence parental perceptions of improvements in their child’s performance of activity/participation goals.