Impact of Solution-Focused Coaching Training on Pediatric Rehabilitation Specialists: A longitudinal evaluation study

ABSTRACT

Fostering successful interprofessional collaboration remains a challenge in pediatric rehabilitation. A coaching approach can enhance client-centered care and provide a transdisciplinary framework for collaboration. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the impact of Solution-Focused Coaching in Pediatric Rehabilitation (SFC-peds) training on pediatric rehabilitation practitioners from multiple disciplinary backgrounds. Thirty-seven service providers (SPs) completed surveys at baseline and three follow-ups. Quantitative and qualitative findings both suggested that the training proved an effective way to achieve substantial and sustainable improvements in SFC knowledge, confidence, and use of SFC-peds techniques among participating SPs. The educational intervention also facilitated the integration of a strengths-based, solution-building approach at an individual and team level, providing SPs with a common language and shared framework for client-centered care and optimal collaboration with colleagues. A need for practice opportunities tailored to unique care contexts was identified. Future research should further explore the impacts of a SFC-peds approach on interprofessional teams, as well as on health outcomes of clients.

KEYWORDS:

• Solution-Focused Coaching in Pediatric Rehabilitation (SFC-peds)
• coaching training
• interprofessional learning
• longitudinal survey

Acknowledgments

We thank the participating service providers for their time and valuable input.

Declaration of interest

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

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s Transitions Strategy. Gillian King was also supported by the Canada Research Chair in Optimal Care for Children with Disabilities (Tier 1), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This chair is supported by matching funds from the Kimel Family Opportunities Fund through the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Yukari Seko

Yukari Seko, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Ryerson University, School of Professional Communication, whose program of research spans arts, humanities, social sciences and health. As a critical communication and culture scholar by training, she uses a multimodal storytelling approach to disrupt normative discourses of health, illness and dis/ability. Her research interests include narratives of mental illness and disabilities, solution-focused communication, digital health, and arts-informed methods. One of her programs of research encompasses subjective experiences of disabled youth and their families transitioning to adulthood.

Gillian King

Gillian King, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Senior Scientist (Bloorview Research Institute), Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (University of Toronto), and Canada Research Chair in Optimal Care for Children with Disabilities (Tier 1). Her research interests include the participation of children with disabilities, youth transitions, client and parent wellness, and client engagement. Her current research focuses on developing measures of engagement in therapy; the key elements and processes underlying the effectiveness of youth transition programs; mental health and the participation of children and youth with disabilities; and the role of resiliency in rehabilitation service delivery.

Sarah Keenan

Sarah Keenan, MPH, is the Organization Development and Learning Consultant at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Sarah collaborates with management and decision makers to identify, implement, and support effective organization development interventions. At the time of this study, she worked as a life skills coach, solution-focused coach, and clinical team investigator in the Bloorview Research Institute. Sarah’s research interests include solution-focused coaching, youth transitions, and friendship-based interventions for youth with disabilities.

Joanne Maxwell

Joanne Maxwell, MSc, OT Reg. (Ont.) is Senior Director, Collaborative Practice at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, overseeing the professional and interprofessional practice of the health disciplines. Joanne has a clinical background in Occupational Therapy, is a certified Project Management Professional, and Prosci Change Practitioner, and is actively involved in clinical research in healthcare transitions, solutions focused coaching, and the impact of healthcare portals on client engagement and clinician documentation practices. Joanne is a PhD student in the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, and has a status appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.

Anna Oh

Anna Oh, MSc is a Research Coordinator for the Transitions Strategy at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. She holds a Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from Boston University. Anna coordinates studies investigating models of service delivery and capacities contributing to optimal transitions to adulthood for youth with disabilities and their families.

C.J. Curran

C.J. Curran is the Director, Programs and Services at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.  As a member of the leadership team, she is currently responsible for leading a multi-million dollar systems wide transitions strategy that supports and integrates consistent transition best practices from adolescence to adulthood.  CJ has demonstrated ability in uniting stakeholders through shared vision and intentional purpose. CJ is inspired by people and opportunities that embrace the spirit of inquiry and challenge the status quo.