Select papers related to physical activity knowledge translation for persons with physical disability.
Narrative as a knowledge translation tool for facilitating impact: Translating physical activity knowledge to disabled people and health professionals. [2015]
Theoretically informed by narrative inquiry, this article examines the utility of stories as a possible tool for disseminating synthesized physical activity knowledge to adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) and health care professionals (HCPs) working with this population. It is the first research to systematically examine in this context the use of narratives as a knowledge translation tool. Method: Forty-three participants (15 adults with SCI; 13 peer mentors with SCI; and 15 HCPs) individually listened to an evidence-based story set in a rehabilitation hospital about the process of becoming physically active following SCI. Individual telephone interviews were conducted to examine participants’ perceptions of the story. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results: Five themes were inductively identified: (a) effective communication, (b) narrative authenticity, (c) credible messengers, (d) narrative format, and (e) narrative as a form of action. Together, the themes reveal that the story had utility, the various attributes that help explain why this is case, how the utility might be maximized, what the stories could do on and for people, and how the narratives can be used to support behavior change. Conclusions: The article advances knowledge by revealing the value of narrative as a means for disseminating evidence-based information to people with SCI and to HCPs. It also reveals that stories can be used to facilitate dialogue, teach, remind, reassure, and reinvigorate people. This article is a resource for enabling knowledge to be more effectively shared to different audiences and applying what we know in practice to help people live meaningful lives.
Changing minds, changing lives from the top down: an investigation of the dissemination and adoption of a Canada-wide educational intervention to enhance health care professionals’ intentions to prescribe physical activity. [2015]
PURPOSE: The purposes of the current study were to (1) describe the restructuring and dissemination of a Canada-wide intervention curriculum designed to enhance health care professionals’ prescription of physical activity to patients with physical disabilities, and (2) examine interventionists’ social cognitions for, and their acceptance and adoption of, the new curriculum.
METHODS: A participatory curriculum development process was utilized, resulting in a theory- and evidence-based curriculum. Interventionists (N = 28) were trained in curriculum delivery and most (n = 22) completed measures of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs assessing their cognitions for delivering the new curriculum at pre- and post-training and at 6-month follow-up. Interventionists also completed a Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) measure assessing their opinion of whether the new curriculum met characteristics that would facilitate its adoption and use.
RESULTS: Interventionists reported strong TPB cognitions for curriculum use before training. Significant increases emerged for some TPB constructs (ps ≤ 0.025) from pre- to post-training, and significant decreases were seen in some TPB constructs (ps ≤ 0.024) between post-training and 6-month follow-up. The interventionists rated the new curriculum as high on all the DOI characteristics.
CONCLUSION: The theory-driven, participatory development process facilitated interventionists’ social cognitions towards and adoption of the new curriculum. Positive increases in TPB cognitions from pre- to post-training were not maintained at follow-up. Further research is needed to determine if these changes in cognitions are indicative of a curriculum “reinvention” process that facilitates long-term curriculum use. Understanding curriculum adoption and implementation is a crucial step to determining the potential population impact of the intervention.
‘Changing Minds’: determining the effectiveness and key ingredients of an educational intervention to enhance healthcare professionals’ intentions to prescribe physical activity to patients with physical disabilities [2014]
Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are vital conduits of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) information; however, few discuss LTPA with their patients with disabilities. ‘ Changing Minds, Changing Lives ’ (CMCL) is a nationwide, theory- and evidence-based seminar aimed at increasing LT PA-discussion among HCPs by enhancing their attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control (PBC), and intentions. The purposes of the current study were to: examine the effectiveness and short- and long-t erm maintenance of a CMCL seminar on HCPs ’ social cognitions to discuss LTPA; and explore key implementation variables that predict changes in HCPs ’ social cognitions.