Coaching in context: parent perspectives

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore Coaching in Context as experienced by caregivers of children with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Thematic analysis of follow-up interviews completed with caregivers of children with SCI (N = 7). During the initial coding phase, two reviewers deductively coded the data using the interview guide used to complete the interviews and subsequently inductively coded the data to identify emerging themes. The codes were analyzed and organised into themes. The reviewers examined each other’s themes to compare their interpretation, assessed themes in relation to coded quotes, and developed consensus on themes. Three common themes emerged that reflect the parent perspectives towards coaching with 2–3 subthemes – (1) new learning with subthemes of goal-oriented approach, goal setting, and organisation strategies, (2) client-coach relationship with subthemes of accountability, convenience, and support, and (3) gaining insight with subthemes of self-efficacy and confidence. Findings indicate perceived benefits of coaching in context from caregivers of children with SCI. Coaching in Context may be an effective approach for fostering skill development and increased self-efficacy for caregivers of children with SCI. It can be used by clinicians to enhance existing skills, such as therapeutic use of self and goal setting, to encourage client participation.

KEYWORDS:

• coaching
• coaching in context
• caregiver
• spinal cord injury
• pediatric spinal cord injury
• goal setting
• self-efficacy

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge our clients and coaches who participated in the larger study to examine the feasibility and outcomes of Coaching in Context with informal caregivers of children with SCI. This work was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University, 2020, for Rachel Y. Kim and Madelyn Johnson.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation [grant number #533863].

Notes on contributors

Rachel Y. Kim

Rachel Y. Kim is an Occupational Therapist and serves as a Research Coordinator for the Center for Outcomes and Measurement. Her research background includes Autism Spectrum Disorder populations, health and social policy, and global health. Her clinical experience includes inpatient rehabilitation, treating neurological, cardiopulmonary and orthopedic conditions. Dr. Kim also has experience within community mental health and community reintegration. She uses her diverse background and experience within her research and coordination role.

Madelyn Johnson

Madelyn Johnson is an Occupational Therapist who works for Outreach Rehabilitation servicing communities in New York City with orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, oncological and neurological conditions. Collaborating with other clinicians in the area, Dr. Johnson has functioned as an essential role in providing evidence-based care to individuals with dementia. Her other clinical experience includes pediatrics and sub-acute rehabilitation. Dr. Johnson has a background in assisting with research involving youth and adults with spinal cord injury and other chronic conditions. As part of her doctoral research capstone, Dr. Johnson’s interdisciplinary collaboration led to the development of a training protocol for research personnel and healthcare professionals to examine thoracolumbar range of motion. Dr. Johnson’s greatest satisfaction, however, comes from seeing her patients recover and enjoy the lives they are meant to enjoy.

M. J. Mulcahey

M. J. Mulcahey is a Professor of Occupational Therapist and Director of the Center for Outcomes and Measurement in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. She has 30 years of experience as a practitioner, educator and researcher. She is Certified Life Care Planner and Certified Positive Psychology Coach. Her primary area of research is on the development, validation and utilisation of new and existing outcome measures of impairment, physical function, activity, and participation for children, youth and adults with spinal cord injury (SCI), and other chronic conditions. Engaging and working collaboratively with others, Dr. Mulcahey has developed and validated IRT-based child and parent reported outcome measures, conducted psychometric studies to establish lower age guidelines for outcome instruments used in SCI clinical trials, established pediatric recommendations for the NINDS SCI CDE and International SCI basic data sets, and developed and validated estimates to allow linking between pediatric and adult patient reported outcome scores. She has conducted research on coaching outcomes with caregivers of children with SCI and adults with SCI. Dr. Mulcahey has published over 180 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 19 chapters, and served as editor for 9 books\ special journal issues. She has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Rick Hansen Institute and the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Dr. Mulcahey is current Chair of the Board of Trustees of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, past-president of the American Spinal Injury Association, chair of the Board of Governance of the Steel Assembly for Pediatric SCI\D, and serves as associate editor for Topics in SCI Rehabilitation and editorial board member of Spinal Cord and the Physical Therapy Journal.