VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH STUDY
Concern about falling is highly prevalent among people who use wheelchairs and scooters. Excessive concern about falling can lead individuals to restrict their daily and community activities, which over time contributes to physical deconditioning, loss of confidence, and a vicious cycle of further falls and disability, whereas some level of concern can be protective by motivating safer behaviors. Because of this dual nature, it is essential to have validated tools that can accurately measure concern about falling and provide clear interpretive guidance so that clinicians can tailor interventions appropriately.
Validated measures specific to people who use wheelchairs and scooters are currently limited, and existing tools that do target this group do not provide detailed score-interpretation guidelines or clinical decision support for practice. The current study addresses this gap by confirming the psychometric properties of the newly developed and primarily validated Fall Concerns Scale for people who use Wheelchairs and Scooters (FCS‑WC/S) and by developing clinically meaningful score ranges, and guidance for how to use the scale to inform intervention planning.
Phase I of the project consisted of focus groups with clinicians who work with this population, exploring how they assess concern about falling in practice, how they interpret their assessments, and what external cues and indicators (e.g., behavior changes, participation, reported confidence) they use when judging whether concern is appropriate or excessive. Insights from these clinicians were used to develop an online survey, which will be completed by people who use wheelchairs/scooters during phase II.
To participate in the Phase II of the project, individuals must:
1. Be 18 years or older
2. Be able to speak and read English
3. Have used a wheelchair or scooter for at least 6 months
4. Use a wheelchair or scooter for at least 75% of their mobility (approximately 30 hours per week).
5. Be physically present in the United States
Participants complete three online surveys over six months (baseline, 7-day follow-up, and 6‑month follow-up, and they receive monetary compensation for each completed survey. (For a total of $40).
To participate or ask questions about the study, please email the research team at: dpqol-fcs@illinois.edu