Type of Administration:
The outcome measure is administered by a clinician, therapist, or a qualified individual who is knowledgeable about wheelchair interventions. The answers provided by the wheelchair user are recorded by the clinician.
Time to Administer:
Less than 30 minutes
Response Scale:
After the client provides an indoor or outdoor related goal (Part I), the clinician will ask:
“On a scale ranging from 0 to 10, 0 meaning not satisfied at all and 10 meaning extremely satisfied, how satisfied are you with your current level of performance of this activity?”
Scoring:
There are several ways to score the WhOM using either total scores or mean scores that incorporate either satisfaction scores only or satisfaction x importance scores. Each method provides slightly different information and there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Different ways of scoring include:
Mean satisfaction = the sum of all satisfaction scores ÷ number of goals.
Total satisfaction = the sum of all satisfaction scores for each goal
Mean satisfaction × importance = the sum of the individual importance x satisfaction of all goals ÷ number of goals.
Total satisfaction × importance = the sum of the individuals importance x satisfaction scores of all goals
The first method focuses only on the client’s satisfaction; this is often easier to interpret for clinical practice. Another scoring method multiples the satisfaction times importance scores, which factors in the degree of importance for each item.
This score may be more appropriate for research purposes as there is a greater range in score distribution. Mean scores allow comparison of individuals that have a different number of items.
Interpretation:
In part I, the results can be interpreted as change in scores from T2 – T1. If this value is a positive integer, the client has experienced an increase in satisfaction with their use of the wheelchair in their home or community.
In part II, the results can be interpreted as:
Q1 and Q2: Change in scores from T2 – T1. If this value is a positive integer, then the client has experienced an increase in their satisfaction with either their comfort (Q1) and/or body positioning (Q2).
Q3a: Change in scores from T2 – T1. If this value is a positive integer, then the client has experienced an increase in severity of skin breakdown. The desired outcome for Q3a is a negative integer, that is, a decrease from T1 to T2.
Research suggests that a change score of at least 2 points on the 11 point original scale is a clinically meaningful change.