PlayConnections: Relationship-focussed Early Childhood Intervention Training for Allied Health Practitioners

Jacqueline Barfoot; Pamela Meredith; Jenny Ziviani; Koa Whittingham

doi:10.1080/1034912X.2021.1955334

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PlayConnections: Relationship-focussed Early Childhood Intervention Training for Allied Health Practitioners

Journal article

Peer reviewed

PlayConnections: Relationship-focussed Early Childhood Intervention Training for Allied Health Practitioners

Jacqueline Barfoot, Pamela Meredith, Jenny Ziviani and Koa Whittingham

International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, Vol.69(1), pp.217-238

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2021.1955334

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Developmental delays

early intervention

parenting

relationship-based approach

training

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

The ability of parents to read children's cues and respond sensitively underpins the effectiveness of early interventions. Allied health practitioners, however, typically spend little time focussing on parent-child interactions in early childhood intervention. A 1-day training event: 'PlayConnections' was developed to support practitioners to adopt a relationship focus. Allied health practitioners (N = 137) from a range of intervention settings across Queensland, Australia, attended one of five 1-day training events. A concurrent mixed-methods research design was used. Using a purpose-designed knowledge and participant perception survey, data was collected at three time points: pre-, post-, and 3-6 months after training. Significant changes (p < .001) were found pre-post training in participant knowledge of a relationship-focussed approach. These improvements were maintained at follow-up (p < .001). Exploratory factor analysis revealed three participant perception subscales: perceptions of their therapy skills, comfort with emotions, and understanding of a relationship-focussed approach. All revealed significant improvements (p < .001) across the three time periods. Qualitative analysis of free-text data from the follow-up stage revealed three main themes: 1) changes in practice; 2) enhanced observations; and 3) practice challenges. While participants reported many benefits of applying training principles, they also perceived some barriers to effective implementation of a relationship-based approach.

Details

Title: PlayConnections: Relationship-focussed Early Childhood Intervention Training for Allied Health Practitioners
Authors: Jacqueline Barfoot (Author) - University of Queensland
Pamela Meredith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Jenny Ziviani (Author) - University of Queensland
Koa Whittingham (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, Vol.69(1), pp.217-238
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1080/1034912X.2021.1955334
ISSN: 1465-346X
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Occupational Therapy; Cancer Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99586208202621
Output Type: Journal article

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