Physiotherapy - Research Publications

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    "We are a unique breed": strategies to enhance physical activity participation for preschool-aged children born extremely preterm, a mixed-methods study
    Coulston, F ; Spittle, A ; McDonald, C ; Remedios, L ; Toovey, R ; Cheong, J ; Sellick, K (TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2023-11-20)
    PURPOSE: Preschool-aged children (three to five years old) born preterm participate in less physical activity (PA) than term-born children. Circus activities (a type of recreational PA) are a potential avenue to increase PA rates, but further insight into how to tailor these to address the participation gap is needed. This study investigated barriers and facilitators informing participation in recreational PA for preschool-aged children born extremely preterm and explored strategies to enhance participation in circus activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sequential mixed-methods study utilizing surveys (n = 217), interviews (n = 43), and a focus group (n = 6) with key stakeholder groups (parents, coaches, and clinicians). Qualitative data (Framework Method) and quantitative data (descriptive statistics) were mixed during preliminary and final analyses. RESULTS: Five themes were developed from the mixed data: the crucial role of the coach and the need for specific training, the therapeutic role of PA and promoting outcomes beyond the physical, the impact of communication and class planning, consideration of convenience and cost, and finally, the role of clinicians. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers, facilitators, and strategies were identified which may be used to modify or co-design circus-based PA interventions to enhance participation and improve rates of PA for preschool-aged children born extremely preterm.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONFamilies consider recreational physical activities to be part of the therapeutic agenda for their preschool-aged children born extremely preterm.Key stakeholders feel that recreational physical activity should target outcomes beyond the physical.Coach attributes and capability impact participation of children born preterm and their families, and may be enhanced with specific training.Clinicians should be engaged in design of recreational physical activities for children born preterm.
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    Improving centre-based group exercise participation of older adults using the behaviour change wheel
    Kwok, BC ; Wong, WP ; Remedios, L (BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2021-03)
    An emphasis on active ageing could help to delay the onset of frailty. In Singapore, Senior Activity Centres provide free and guided group exercise sessions for older adults. However, one such centre had very low participation rates among community-dwelling older adults despite running standardised programmes. Based on a needs analysis from a prior project, this paper reports on strategies implemented to improve the daily centre-based group exercise participation rate among community-dwelling older adults. Using the behaviour change wheel model, participant motivation domains were identified as primary gaps, while the psychological capability and physical opportunity were categorised as secondary gaps. A logic model was used to design a project to respond to these identified gaps and guide the evaluation approach. Three strategies were implemented over a 4-week period and reviewed at 6 months: (1) promotion of the exercise classes, (2) delayed rewards for participation and (3) health ambassadors. Evaluation findings highlighted that more resources were needed for the training of community-dwelling older adult healthcare ambassadors in the use of motivational interviewing. The interventions were found to be efficacious in increasing daily group exercise participation rate at the centre, from an average of three to nine participants per day over the 4 weeks. Furthermore, more than 60% of these participants achieved the WHO's weekly minimum exercise recommendation for older adults (150 min moderate-intensity physical activity). To increase the engagement of older adults in physical activity or exercise participation, we recommend the use of behaviour change wheel model and the use of community-based health ambassadors. In conclusion, the project found improved daily centre-based group physical exercise participation rates when all the domains in the behaviour change wheel model were addressed.
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    Interventions to support parents of infants at risk or with a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disability
    Finlayson, F ; Olsen, JE ; Remedios, L ; Spittle, A (WILEY, 2021-03)