The WST is a comprehensive measure used to objectively evaluate manual wheelchair skills (Kirby et al. 2002). Existing wheelchair tests (Harvey et al. 1998) do not include the level of wheelchair skills required for daily functioning.

Number of items: 50

Procedure/Administration: The revised WST 2.4 includes 50 skills in 10 areas (brakes, armrests, footrests, rolling, turning, reaching, transfers, fold/open, obstacles, and wheelie). The individual is required to use a manual wheelchair and two attempts, with a rest, are permitted to complete the task.

How scored: Scoring is on a pass-fail basis (pass=1, fail=0, N/A=not applicable) with an additional goal attainment score (GAS), for which the clinician indicates whether or not the skill is a reasonable goal for the individual case (N/G=not a goal). The total WST score for individuals with SCI was 68.4+15.1%, indicating that these individuals were able to complete approximately 70% of the tasks deemed suitable.

Interpretability: N/a

Acceptability: N/a

Languages: N/a

Usability: N/a

Time to administer: On average, it takes 27.0+9.3mins (range 12–70mins) to complete

Time to score: N/a

Training required: The clinician requires test familiarization and a spotter is mandatory.

Availability: N/a

Equipment required: A specialized wheelchair circuit or access to a variety of environmental obstacles.

Summary:

• The tasks cover a wide range of difficulty while remaining functional. It is a generic tool that can be used for several populations (e.g. SCI, amputees, stroke, musculoskeletal disorders, able-bodied) and it was developed using both inpatient and community dwelling samples.

. Psychometric Summary:

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; varied (re. floor/ceiling effects; mixed results).

SS= Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

References:

• Kirby RL, Swuste J, Dupuis DJ, MacLeod DA, Monroe R. The Wheelchair Skills Test: a pilot study of a new outcome measure. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:10-18. 
• Harvey LA, Batty J, Fahey A. Reliability of a tool for assessing mobility in wheelchair-dependent paraplegics. Spinal Cord 1998;36:427-431.