Acceptability of Dance PREEMIE (a Dance PaRticipation intervention for Extremely prEterm children with Motor Impairment at prEschool age) from the perspectives of families and dancer teachers: a reflexive thematic analysis

ABSTRACT

Background

Physical activity (PA) participation is important for children born extremely preterm or extremely low birthweight as it provides opportunities to improve motor skills and cardiovascular fitness; however there is little evidence on interventions promoting PA participation for this group, particularly at preschool age.

Objective

This study aims to explore the acceptability, a critical component of intervention feasibility, of a novel dance participation intervention.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews explored the acceptability of Dance PREEMIE, a Dance PaRticipation intervention for Extremely prEterm children with Motor Impairment at prEschool age (trial registration ACTRN12619001266156), from the perspectives of dance teachers delivering the intervention (n = 6), and parents of participating children (n = 6). Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Five themes were developed: 1) placing the child center-stage: a shared motivation to promote child wellbeing and development; 2) Dance PREEMIE as a catalyst for participation; 3) child development takes time, practice and exposure; 4) the value of being informed; and 5) dance teachers as architects of the learning environment.

Conclusion

Dance PREEMIE was acceptable to both parents of participating children and dance teachers. Findings from this study may inform future interventions aiming to improve PA participation for children with motor impairment at preschool age.

KEYWORDS:

• Premature infant
• physical activity
• participation
• acceptability
• motor impairment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by grants from the Physiotherapy Research Foundation, Australia [Project grant S18-021], the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [Centre of Research Excellence #1060733 and #1153176; Career Development Fellowship #1159533 to AJS], the Medical Research Future Fund of Australia [Career Development Fellowship to JLYC #1141354] and the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. KLC's PhD candidature was supported by The Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and the Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine. Cassie McDonald’s PhD candidature is supported by The Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.