Understanding the well-being of children and young people with complex disabilities who use the Innowalk.

Pickering, Dawn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4779-5616 and Gale, Nichola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5207-9863 2023. Understanding the well-being of children and young people with complex disabilities who use the Innowalk. [Project Report]. APCP.

Preview

PDF (Final research report) - Other Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Researchers have not yet developed a valid and reliable measure of well-being for children with complex disabilities. Complex disabilities refer to those children with learning disabilities and complex needs such as those with cerebral palsy. This disability can make participation in physical activities harder, but the impact upon well-being is unknown. Well-being in this study refers to how children can indicate from their behaviours whether they are enjoying participation in the Innowalk, a robotic device. Consultation took place with disabled adults, children and young people and their parents, to discuss the domains of a proposed well-being scale. Based upon their contributions and previous doctoral research, well-being indicators included calmness, comfort, creativity, energy levels, engaging with others and expressing joy. Participants were observed in a special school context when using the Innowalk. The Innowalk is reported to have health and well-being benefits for non-ambulant people but is expensive to purchase and maintain. A case study series observed ten children, on three occasions when they participated in the Innowalk, for evidence indicating their well-being. Observational field notes were made, and these were mapped onto two existing scales the Be-Well checklist and PRIME-O, as well as the proposed new observational well-being scale (WEBS). The data were supported by their parents keeping a diary during this time, followed by interviews. The observational scales were analysed descriptively. Interview and diary data were analysed thematically, and three themes were identified: Well-being: Mood and achievements; Participation: Anticipation and tolerance; Physical effects: Improved self-regulation and self-care. The new WEBS scale is discussed and how well-being can fluctuate during a session, making this hard to contain or measure. The participants indicated that they enjoyed their experiences in the Innowalk, which supports existing research. What this study adds are the descriptors of aspects of well-being including comfort, calmness, creativity and engagement. Further work will be developed to explore staff perceptions of measuring well-being and to refine the WEBS scale on a larger population of disabled children, young people and young adults.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Publisher:	APCP
Funders:	Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists
Last Modified:	01 Nov 2023 10:40
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/163582

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item