A feasibility study using solution-focused coaching for health promotion in children and young people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a coaching intervention (Solution-Focused Coaching in pediatric rehabilitation [SFC-Peds]) related to physical activity and diet in males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Methods: A pre-post design was employed. Participants had five coaching sessions over 8 weeks. The first session was face-to-face, followed by four virtual sessions. Feasibility criteria included recruitment rates, attrition, and intervention fidelity. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) were employed to look at outcome trends. The acceptability was assessed using a survey. Results: Five males (11–19 years) participated. All feasibility criteria were met. Clinically significant increases were observed for GAS and COPM scores. Participants reported SFC-Peds to be acceptable. Broad barriers and facilitators to coaching success were identified. Conclusions: A SFC-Peds intervention for health promotion is feasible and acceptable in children with DMD and their families. A rigorous efficacy study assessing SFC-Peds intervention is warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Coaching
• disability
• health promotion
• nutrition
• physical activity

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank all of the participants and families who took part in this study. We thank Joan Walker for providing research assistant support and Kathleen Macleod for her clinical input.

Funding

Funding was provided by the Centre for Leadership in Participation and Inclusion with the support of the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

¹ The term “healthy eating” was used with participants at all times.

Additional information

Funding

Funding was provided by the Centre for Leadership in Participation and Inclusion with the support of the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation.