Using a Co-design Approach to Create Tools to Facilitate Physical Activity in Children With Physical Disabilities.

Eline A M Bolster,Christa Van Gessel,Sander Hermsen,Remko Van Der Lugt,Maxime Welten,Anita Van Essen,Manon A T Bloemen,Elles Kotte

doi:10.3389/fresc.2021.707612

Abstract

Introduction: There is a lack of effective interventions available for Pediatric Physical Therapists (PPTs) to promote a physically active lifestyle in children with physical disabilities. Participatory design methods (co-design) may be helpful in generating insights and developing intervention prototypes for facilitating a physically active lifestyle in children with physical disabilities (6–12 years).Materials and methods: A multidisciplinary development team of designers, developers, and researchers engaged in a co-design process–together with parents, PPTs, and other relevant stakeholders (such as the Dutch Association of PPTs and care sports connectors). In this design process, the team developed prototypes for interventions during three co-creation sessions, four one-week design sprint, living-lab testing and two triangulation sessions. All available co-design data was structured and analyzed by three researchers independently resulting in themes for facilitating physical activity.Results: The data rendered two specific outcomes, (1) knowledge cards containing the insights collected during the co-design process, and (2) eleven intervention prototypes. Based on the generated insights, the following factors seem important when facilitating a physically active lifestyle: a) stimulating self-efficacy; b) stimulating autonomy; c) focusing on possibilities; d) focusing on the needs of the individual child; e) collaborating with stakeholders; f) connecting with a child's environment; and g) meaningful goal setting.Conclusion: This study shows how a co-design process can be successfully applied to generate insights and develop interventions in pediatric rehabilitation. The designed prototypes facilitate the incorporation of behavioral change techniques into pediatric rehabilitation and offer new opportunities to facilitate a physically active lifestyle in children with physical disabilities by PPTs. While promising, further studies should examine the feasibility and effectivity of these prototypes.

Highlights

There is a lack of effective interventions available for Pediatric Physical Therapists (PPTs) to promote a physically active lifestyle in children with physical disabilities
While pediatric physical therapists (PPTs) are the designated professionals to facilitate physical activities in children with disabilities [9], a systematic review showed the lack of effective interventions available for PPTs to increase physical activity levels in these children [10]
Specific behavioral change strategies might provide PPTs with the right tools to support children and their parents to overcome personal and environmental barriers that hinder them to participate in physical activities [12, 14]

Summary

Introduction

There is a lack of effective interventions available for Pediatric Physical Therapists (PPTs) to promote a physically active lifestyle in children with physical disabilities. While pediatric physical therapists (PPTs) are the designated professionals to facilitate physical activities in children with disabilities [9], a systematic review showed the lack of effective interventions available for PPTs to increase physical activity levels in these children [10]. An important environmental barrier is the inability of people to see possibilities for children with disabilities to become physically active [11]. Specific behavioral change strategies might provide PPTs with the right tools to support children and their parents to overcome personal and environmental barriers that hinder them to participate in physical activities [12, 14]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion