Promoting Participation-Focused Practices in Inclusive Educational Settings: Stakeholders' Perspectives Following a Knowledge Translation Initiative

Abstract

Importance: Available participation-focused interventions (e.g., the Pathways and Resources for Engagement and Participation intervention [PREP]), are not well integrated into practice, indicating a knowledge-to-practice gap.

Objective: To explore the perspectives of school-based (SB) occupational therapists and occupational therapy managers following knowledge translation (KT) programs for facilitating participation-based practices in inclusive education.

Design: This was an implementation qualitative study. After taking part in KT programs for implementing PREP, which were tailored to the needs and contexts of each stakeholder group, occupational therapists participated in focus groups, and occupational therapy managers responded to open-ended survey questions. A content analysis was done separately for each group, then integrated and organized according to the Participation-focused KT (P-KT) framework.

Setting: Inclusive educational setting.

Participants: Seven occupational therapists working in inclusive schools and 39 occupational therapy managers.

Results: We identified 10 themes addressing the micro, meso, and macro levels of the P-KT framework across the two groups. Five themes, common to all participants, addressed micro (e.g., setting participation-focused goals) and meso (e.g., school-PREP fit) levels. Macro-level themes were addressed by managers only (e.g., anchoring PREP to existing policy of the Israeli Ministry of Education).

Conclusions and relevance: Targeting different stakeholders at the micro and meso levels of the educational system can initiate a shift in practice toward a focus on participation. KT intersectoral initiatives at the macro level (e.g., targeting community services and local policies), and engaging other stakeholders (e.g., students, families, and educators), are required to ensure the sustainability of participation-based practices. What This Article Adds: The authors present two knowledge translation programs that target both occupational therapists and managers in the educational system. The programs promote a shift in school-based occupational therapy services toward a focus on participation and environment.