Paula Rushton

Education

• BSc, Mount Allison University
  
• MCISc(OT), Western University
  
• PhD, (Rehabilitation Sciences) University of British Columbia
• PDF, (Biomedical Sciences) Université de Montréal

Research interests

Dr. Rushton’s research is focused on measurement, intervention, knowledge translation and education related to improving the wheeled mobility of both adults and children through an improved wheelchair provision process. From the measurement, intervention and knowledge translation perspective, Rushton’s projects lie in the domains of wheelchair skills and wheelchair confidence. From the education perspective, she collaborates with the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals to enhance wheelchair content in rehabilitation university curricula globally.
Project Website:

Memberships

• World Federation of Occupational Therapists
• Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
• Réseau Provincial de Recherche en Adaptation-Réadaptation
• International Society of Wheelchair Professionals
• Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America
• International Society of Prosthetics & Orthotics

Selected Publications (last 2 years)

• Ouellet B, Rushton PW, Côté A-A, Fortin-Haines L, Lafleur E, Paré I, Barwick M, Kirby RL, Robert MT, Routhier F, Dib, T, Burrola-Mendez Y, Best K. (2022) Evaluation of Pediatric-Specific Resources to support utilization of the Wheelchair Skills Training Program by the users of the resources: A Descriptive Qualitative Study. BMC Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03539-0.
• Rushton PW, Kawish-Arbelaez D, Levac-Marquis A, Fung K, Daoust G, Ishack M, Goldberg M, Pearlman J.  (2022) French-Canadian Translation and Adaptation of the Wheelchair Service Provision Basic Test. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2022.2103188.
• Goldberg M, Rushton PW, Kirby RL, Munera S, Kandavel K, Pearlman J, Tawashy A. (2022) Wheelchair Service Provision Content in Professional Rehabilitation Organizations' Standards Documents and Contemporary Initiatives: A Rapid Review. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2022.2063421
• Burrola-Mendez Y, Kamalakannan S, Rushton PW, Bouziane S, Giesbrecht E, Kirby RL, Gowran RJ, Tasiemski T, Rusaw DF, Goldberg M, Tofanin M, Pedersen J, Pearlman J. (2022) Wheelchair service provision education for healthcare professional students, healthcare personnel and educators across low- to high- resourced settings: A scoping review. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2022.2037757.
• Giesbrecht EM, Rushton PW, Dubé E. (2022) Wheelchair service provision education in Canadian occupational therapy programs. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0262165. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262165.
• Pituch E, Rushton PW, Culley K, Houde M, Lahoud A, Lettre J, Routhier F. (2021) Exploration of pediatric manual wheelchair confidence among key stakeholders: A qualitative study. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2021.2001059.
• Thibault J, Pinard P-Y, Rushton PW, Best KL, Sol M, Gauvin-Lepage J. (2021) Physical education for manual wheelchair users in Quebec: A description of teacher training and child integration in elementary and high schools. Journal of Physical Activity Research. 6: 48-58. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/6/1/7.
• Gowran RJ, Bray N, Goldberg M, Rushton PW, Saab M, Constantine D, Ghosh R, Pearlman J. (2021) Understanding the global challenges to access appropriate wheelchairs: Position paper. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18, 3338. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073338.
• Daoust G, Rushton PW, Racine M, Leduc K, Assila N, Demers L. (2021) Adapting the Wheelchair Skills Program for Pediatric Rehabilitation Contexts: Recommendations from Key Stakeholders. BMC Pediatr. 21:103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02564-9

Knowledge Translation Product

Wheelchair Educators’ Package (https://wep.iswp.org/) 

Service and Activity

• Board Member, Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs
• Board Member, International Society of Wheelchair Professionals
• Associate Editor, Assistive Technology Journal of Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
• Invited External Reviewer, World Health Organization, Standards for Wheelchair Service Provision
• Educational Representative, International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Professional Standards Board