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Study Design: Randomised controlled trial., Objectives: To evaluate the impact of two different word prediction software (WPS) training protocols on text input speed (TIS) in people with tetraplegia and to determine which was the most effective., Setting: Rehabilitation department, Garches, France., Methods: Participants with neurological levels between C6 and C8 were allocated to one of three different groups. The REHAB group underwent training with an occupational therapist. The SELF group carried out a standardised home self-training with a written training guide. The CONTROL group had no training. Participants were assessed at day 15 (D15) and day 30 (D30). The primary outcome was a copying task with and without WPS (WITH and WITHOUT)., Results: Forty-two participants (mean age ± SD of 39.8 ± 12) were included and 38 completed the study. At D30, the mean (95% confidence interval) difference in TIS between the CONTROL and SELF groups was 3.8 [-1.7 to 9.4] characters per minute (cpm) (p = 0.23), between the REHAB and SELF groups was 12.9 [7.4 to 18.4] cpm (p < 0.001), and between the REHAB and CONTROL groups was 9.1 [3.5 to 14.6] cpm (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The results of this study showed that occupational therapist-supervised training improved TIS but word prediction software did not increase TIS. These results suggest that supervised training should be provided to all individuals who are prescribed with devices and systems to facilitate computer access in order to increase their TIS.

Study Design: This is a prospective clinical study., Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine text input speed (TIS) in persons with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and to study the influence of personal characteristics and type of computer access device on TIS., Setting: This study was conducted in the Rehabilitation Department, Garches, France., Methods: People with cervical SCI were included if their level of injury was between C4 and C8 Asia A or B, and if they were computer users. In addition, able-bodied people were recruited from the hospital staff. Each participant underwent a single evaluation using their usual computer access devices. TIS was evaluated during a 10- min copying task. The relationship between the characteristics of participants with cervical SCI, type of computer access device and TIS were analyzed using a Scheirer-Ray-Hare test (nonparametric test similar to a two-way analysis of variance)., Results: Thirty-five participants with cervical SCI and 21 able-bodied people were included. Median TIS of participants with cervical SCI was 11 (6; 14) words per minute (w.p.m.) and of able-bodied participants was 19 (14; 24) w.p.m. (P=0.001). Median TIS of participants with lesions at or above C5 was 12 (4; 13) w.p.m. and of those with lesions below C5 was 10 (9; 18) w.p.m. (P=0.38) [corrected]. The Scheirer-Ray-Hare test showed that only the type of computer access device significantly influenced TIS. Surprisingly, none of the person's characteristics, including the level of cervical lesion, affected TIS., Conclusion: This is the first study to analyze TIS in a group of participants with cervical SCI. The results showed that only the type of computer access device influenced TIS.