BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/7261

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A PAR Study: Working with a Scottish community to explore the place for sports-based occupations to aid the social integration of refugees and asylum seekers.
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
A literature review revealed that Refugees and asylum seekers face significant barriers to participation in meaningful occupations when attempting to resettle in the UK. The term occupation refers to purposeful activities that allow people to live independently and have create a sense of identity. Experiences of trauma, xenophobia, language barriers and cultural differences all act as barriers to successful integration in their new communities. In western societies such as the USA and Australia communities are utilising sport as a way of bonding with new cultures and people. Due to the immigration policy in the UK many refugees and asylum seekers struggle to access employment and education, and have limited financial resources - this can result in people being deprived of meaningful activity and appropriate socialisation. This dissertation aims to use Participatory Action Research to give refugees, asylum seekers and the wider community a voice in how to identify and tackle barriers to social integration. The paper proposes the use of focus groups to bring together members of the community from different social groups including refugees and asylum seekers. The researcher will propose sport as a perfect medium to create opportunities for meaningful activities that can bring the community together. The research aims to develop and present recommendations to local authorities and third sector organisations in order to develop services to create positive social change.
A Phenomenological Study into the experience of being a parent with ADHD, participating in everyday tasks and routines.
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition widely recognized in children. In recent years it has been recognized that ADHD continues into adulthood. There are now people being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, often when the condition is identified in their child. Still, there has been very little research completed in this field. Occupational Therapists have worked for many years with children with ADHD. However, this condition presents different challenges in adults than in children and many adults have been left to manage themselves. The literature review showed that parents with ADHD experienced difficulties in their everyday life. The majority of previous literature has been conducted out with the UK from a psychology perspective, however uses occupational therapy terminology. However, In the UK there has been no research to show how this affects their every day life within the realms of occupational therapy. Adults with ADHD often find household chores and sticking to routines difficult. Parents specifically report finding discipline and routine difficult which leads to increased stress. The review concluded, that ADHD may cause difficulties for parents in the UK but it is currently unclear how the conditions affects their parenting as parenting behaviours may differ in the UK. Therefore, this thesis will attempt to explore the experience of parents who have ADHD whilst participating in everyday household tasks and routines. A phenomenological approach will be used to gather a deep understanding of four Scottish parents' experiences. It will look at parents newly diagnosed with ADHD in adult hood. This will be done through a combination of interviews and video-diaries. It is hoped this research will lead the way to wider investigation in the field of Occupational Therapy with a specific focus on Parents.
A proposal for a one-stop programme to support older Singapore residents to transition to retirement.
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
From an occupational perspective, retirement is one of life's major and important transitions, and affects every day occupational life as one moves from full-time work into a daily life where work no longer dominates. Retirement is often characterised by the process of rebuilding one's occupational identity and competence. Evidence has suggested retirement as either a positive phenomenon with new opportunities and choices or a difficult and disruptive transitional period associated with emotional distress. Laslett theorised that the "Third Age" - which begins at retirement and continues until the onset of disability - offers self-fulfilment, realisation of creative potentials, lifelong learning and service to society. Moreover, in Singapore, there are no programmes or services specifically for older people who are approaching, or new to retirement. Existing retirement schemes focused on the fiscal aspect, and non-fiscal initiatives and plans tend to apply to the general older population, which are not specific to prospective or new retirees. The literature review highlights that retirees only realise the emotional and psychosocial challenges after retirement and reflected that they could have benefitted from better and earlier preparation. Furthermore, retirement preparation and occupational engagement are related to positive occupational adaptions to retirement. Thus, it is an occupational transition which is significant to occupational therapy. Occupational therapists are well-placed to prepare and support older people in occupationally meaningful retirement using a preventative and community-based approach aimed at identifying needs, providing guidance in information gathering, encouraging active decision making and forward planning, and educating about the importance of engagement in occupations. Therefore, this programme development proposal aims to provide a one-stop programme to support older Singapore residents who are approaching retirement or are new retirees to transition to retirement.
A Proposal for the Development of a Dementia Friendly Community Arts Space in Edinburgh
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
Dementia is one of the biggest global health challenges facing the world today. With an ageing population, the number of people with dementia is rising in Scotland which requires an expansion of dementia services throughout the country. One of the main challenges facing our health and social care system is how to keep people with a diagnosis of dementia in their own homes and a part of the community for as long as possible. Despite facing such a difficult task the Scottish government, National Health Service and organisations such as Alzheimer Scotland are committed to making Scotland a country where people with dementia are included, respected, appreciated, cared for and active within their communities for as long as possible. Current policies and strategies put an emphasis on creating dementia friendly communities through raising local awareness and by making community facilities and services as inclusive as possible. Another emerging form of service for people with dementia is the use of arts and creative activities in group settings to promote wellbeing. A review of the literature surrounding this area found that there is significant evidence to prove that involvement in art and creative activities can increase wellbeing and serve as a valuable form of self-expression for people with dementia. The nature of occupational therapy means that occupations can be used in a variety of ways with any number of client groups, to achieve a wide range of goals such as independence, improved quality of life and social interaction and inclusion. Occupational therapists are therefore well suited to work in community environments, to meet the needs not only of the specified client group but also of the community as a whole. A Dementia Friendly Community Art Space is proposed, which not only aims to increase the wellbeing of those with dementia though participation in the programme, but also to assist in creating a dementia friendly community through raising awareness and providing a space where all are welcome to get involved.
A proposal for the development of a palliative CPD workshop for occupational therapists working in non-specialist palliative roles within NHS Lothian.
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
Palliative care is a specialist area of health care for individuals living with life-limiting illnesses. The main purpose of this type of care is to improve the quality of life for the client and their family through the treatment of emotional, physical and spiritual issues. Palliative care can be provided to any person of any age. It can be delivered to clients in a range of settings, such as in the community or in the hospital. Research has shown that there is a significant gap in palliative care training for health care professionals, in particular for occupational therapists. Additionally the Scottish Government has recognised the need to educate health care professionals in the area of palliative care to improve the quality of care. Working with partners from NHS Lothian, NES Education for Scotland, COT, and the Scottish Partnership for palliative care and occupational therapist representatives from NHS Lothian, a palliative care continuing professional development workshop will be developed for occupational therapists. This workshop will be aimed at occupational therapists working in non-specialist palliative care roles within the NHS Lothian health board, over a two day period. The workshop will focus on the core competencies that are vital for occupational therapists to be educated in order to care effectively for clients with a palliative condition. The long term aim would be to provide this as a core element of continuing professional development for occupational therapists working in non-specialist palliative care roles.
A Proposal for the Development of a Post-Discharge Transition Programme using Skype™ for Individuals with Stroke in Singapore
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
Transitioning from hospital to home after being diagnosed with a stroke is a challenging period of time. The sudden and unpredictable nature of stroke often causes stroke patients and caregivers to be unprepared to return to daily life. As stroke affects many aspects of an individual, long-term disability is common and rehabilitation is required for most patients. Individuals with stroke commonly identified needs relating to participation in daily occupations at home and in the community. Occupational therapy is a profession that enables individuals to participate in activities of daily living. Despite the availability of outpatient rehabilitation services, lapses in discharge coordination and misconceptions of therapy has led to low utilisation of these services. This is detrimental to the individual with stroke as intensive rehabilitation is recommended during the first six months after a stroke. Currently, there is a lack of programmes for stroke patients in Singapore transitioning from hospitals back to their homes and outpatient rehabilitation. Skype™, an online application used to connect people at different locations through video calls, can be used by occupational therapists based in hospitals to provide transitional support for individuals with stroke at home. The programme development plan outlines the provision of occupational therapy support, through Skype™ video calls for stroke patients and caregivers, during the transition from hospital to outpatient rehabilitation, in Singapore. This aims to improve the transition experience, maximise occupational participation and increase the uptake of outpatient rehabilitation.
A proposal for the development of an outdoor adventure-based programme aimed at developing the personal and social skills of 'at-risk' young people.
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
All young people have the right to transition from childhood to adulthood successfully, however some young people lack the resources to achieve this on their own. Those young people who are less likely to successfully transition into adulthood are often referred to as being 'at-risk'. It is important that those individuals who may be at risk are supported to achieve the necessary personal and social skills for successful development. Young people from low-income households are more likely to be at risk than those from more affluent backgrounds. Leith is a part of Edinburgh that has a significant number of young people living in it, who may be considered at risk. Therefore, this proposal is aimed at individuals living in the Leith area. This programme is developed by an occupational therapy student, with the aim of implementation carried out by a band five occupational therapist. Occupational therapy is a profession that works with a multitude of individuals, groups and communities, concerned with enabling them to flourish. Occupational therapists are skilled in identifying the needs of those they work with, and using occupation-based interventions to address these needs. The occupational therapist will build partnerships with: the YMCA, a local youth centre; young people living in this community; and the Abernethy: Ardeonaig Centre, a facility which carries out outdoor adventure-based activities. A literature review has been carried out to explore the use of outdoor adventure-based programmes with young people. This project outlines a proposal for the development of an outdoor adventure-based programme, aimed at developing the personal and social skills of 'at-risk' young people.
A Workshop Proposal for Women who have Experienced Domestic Abuse to Promote Mental Well-Being and Occupational Balance
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
According to 2015 Scottish Government reports, incidents of domestic abuse have risen by 2.5% between 2014 and 2015: 79% are female victims. Abuse within a relationship can come in a variety of forms including physical, financial, emotional and psychological. However all forms appear to have psychological impact upon a woman's life. The impact of domestic abuse remains prevalent after leaving the relationship. Through reviewing the literature to understand the healing experience of domestic abuse, occupational needs of this community were identified. Many women engage in negative coping strategies to 'numb' the pain of the trauma. Through these negative occupations, women's self-worth and identity dissolve: negatively affecting their mental well-being. This has additional implications on their participation in meaningful and active occupations. The review of literature identified support from other domestic abuse survivors to provide a unique and critical contribution to the healing process. This programme development proposes a peer-supported workshop that creates a safe space for individuals to explore their healing experience, learn new occupational skills and coping strategies to enhance mental well-being and occupational balance. Peer-support emphasises mutual experiences to share learnt knowledge, and emotional and practical support. Furthermore, belonging in a group and sharing resources and skills validates and empowers the women during the healing process. An asset-based approach will be used to develop the programme and promote collaboration between the facilitator and participants. The premise of an asset-based approach is to use individuals' and the community's resources and talents to establish a programme: thereby, encouraging community relationship, control and empowerment to achieve well-being. The facilitator anticipates that through connection of a shared experience, participants will learn positive and effective coping strategies and meaningful occupations to manage stressful events and achieve greater well-being.
“Active citizen- reducing social isolation”: A DVD resource to enable support workers to use with service users to highlight social isolation with the aim of becoming active citizens within their communities to reduce experiencing social isolation.
(2018)
Many adults with Learning Disabilities struggle to make appropriate friendships and often have poorer social networks. Due to this, they often become socially isolated and their involvement throughout their communities is reduced. Adults with learning disabilities are a population most at risk of being socially isolated as they often experience barriers to inclusion and have previous experiences of exclusion. Despite the barriers and benefits to inclusion being highlighted within recent policies and literature, many adults with learning disabilities still struggle to access services to enable them to participate. Support Works are an Edinburgh based service with a vision to alter people’s expectations of what is possible and to support people to achieve for themselves what they thought not. They strive to deliver a specialist support service to people with different needs, maximising opportunities to access, vocational, recreational and educational opportunities of their choice, as well as considering their emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing. Support works aim to deliver a service in which service users are at the core to enable participation in service delivery maximising service user’s views and involvement. Existing literature will be reviewed surrounding the area of social isolation concerning adults with learning disabilities using various relevant databases. The findings will be presented through DVD format that will enable support workers to use with service users to highlight social isolation with the aim of becoming active citizens within their communities to reduce experiencing social isolation. The DVD will be further used to highlight the importance of being an active citizen in communities and to reduce social isolation.
Adaptation and Implementation of an Early Intervention Handwriting Programme for Teachers within Mainstream Primary Schools in Scotland.
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
As handwriting is such a complex skill, children struggle to execute tasks to a high standard due to the number of demanding procedures required in order to succeed in the occupation. This may cause frustration and distress which can affect a child's ability and desire to engage within handwriting tasks. Likewise, this may also cause anxiety for parents and teachers. Despite the high standard of literacy teaching in schools, continuous referrals to occupational therapy are made for children who find handwriting challenging, which highlights a need to implement services in order to overcome these barriers to learning. The Scottish Government strives to tackle these issues within the early years in regards to all aspects of education through the use of policy and legislation. This ensures children of all ages, especially within early years are given the right support and that resources are available to ensure they achieve within future occupations. As a profession, occupational therapists acquire the skills and knowledge to provide individuals from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to engage within meaningful occupations in order to succeed within their daily lives. Paediatric occupational therapists aim to support children in order to maximise their engagement, achievement and independence. Occupational therapists are equipped with the skills and knowledge to support a child, their family, other health professionals and educational staff in order to evaluate the challenges and strengths in a child's daily activities. The programme proposal aims to adapt an existing early intervention handwriting programme that was proved to be successful within United States and deliver it to students aged five to seven within mainstream schools in Scotland. The desire is for the programme to display improvements in handwriting performance and receive positive response from participants involved in order for sustainability in the future.
An exploration into the cultural negotiations of a Syrian refugee family, as they occur through participation in everyday occupations, in the context of resettling into a Scottish community.
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
This proposal has explored current literature on the ways in which migrants negotiate cultures in the context of international migration. Migrants often maintain elements of their previous culture by engaging in traditional occupations. Migrants also embrace elements of the new culture in the country they have migrated to, by adopting new occupations, routines and roles. This process requires ongoing negotiation between cultures, and is part of the process in achieving acculturation. Contextual factors play a key role in migrants successfully integrating and acculturating into the new "host" country's lifestyle and culture. These include attitudes of "host" natives and different environments. The literature review highlighted a current lacking of research into refugee's resettlement experiences within a community context, specifically looking at what they do to acculturate and integrate into the "host" society. As a result, the proposed study will aim to explore the cultural negotiations of a refugee family as they occur through participation in occupation. The study will be qualitative and use a focused ethnographic approach. They study will recruit one Syrian refugee family who are resettling into a Scottish community, and use in depth semi-structured interviews and participant observations to collect data. They study will aim to understand how culture is negotiated throughout the family, what the family do to acculturate into the wider society, and the contextual factors which facilitate or hinder successful acculturation. The data will be analysed using a triangulation of methods, and themes will be developed. Respondent validation will be used to confirm the research themes and conclusions. The researcher will use reflexivity throughout to ensure the findings are accurate and unbiased. Respondent validation and reflexivity will ensure rigor.
An exploration into the lived experience of adults with Fibromyalgia engaging in yoga.
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
Fibromyalgia is a long-term pain condition which affects approximately one in twenty people in the United Kingdom, yet remains a relatively unknown and misunderstood condition in current society. Fibromyalgia has many symptoms which can be very unpleasant. However, due to this condition being relatively new and not well understood in medical society, medication is not always effective, nor a desirable option for individuals who have the condition, therefore an alternative solution is required. This leads on to the proposed idea within this study, that yoga could be a beneficial alternative for individuals who have Fibromyalgia to manage their symptoms and wellbeing. Firstly, the available literature will be reviewed, analysing current published research which has studied the benefits/limitations of using yoga as an intervention for people who have Fibromyalgia. Through reviewing the literature, there appeared to be a research gap requiring further investigation. No studies provided a high quality, qualitative perspective of yoga while living with Fibromyalgia. Which would be beneficial for occupational therapy literature, as chronic pain is a personal experience and therefore cannot truly be understood through a quantitative lens like the studies in the review. Therefore, leading to the proposed research aim "To explore the experience of individuals who have Fibromyalgia engaging in yoga, and how this influences occupational engagement." A qualitative study is proposed to understand the above aim. Recruitment of participants will come from yoga classes, who have Fibromyalgia. It is hoped the study will have eight participants that will complete semi-structured interviews, allowing the researcher to explore how yoga can influence their engagement in self-care, productivity and leisure.
An exploration into the patient experience of early supported discharge (ESD) after stroke in rural remote Scotland
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
Stroke can have a significant and lasting impact on the lives of stroke survivors, with approximately 14,300 strokes occurring in Scotland each year. The occurrence of stroke is predicted to increase in the United Kingdom over the coming years. This is due to an aging population, and has resulted in stroke care becoming a priority within government policy. As part of stroke rehabilitation, it is recommended that those who have had a mild to moderate stroke should receive early supported discharge where possible. Early supported discharge facilitates an early discharge from hospital, with continued specialist stroke rehabilitation within the patient's home. Rehabilitation within the patient's home is important as it allows the patient to adapt to their new circumstances in their own environment, and allows challenges to be identified at an earlier point in time. Upon reviewing the literature, there is a lack of research which explores the patient's experience of early supported discharge. There is no literature exploring this experience within rural remote Scottish. There is an estimated 1 million people living in rural remote Scotland, and this context presents unique challenges for health care service provision. Therefore, it is important to explore the patient experience of early supported discharge in this unique context. This may contribute to an understanding of how early supported discharge can be provided effectively within rural remote Scotland. Through an interpretive phenomenological design, this research proposal aims to explore the patient experience of early supported discharge within rural remote Scotland. Semistructured interviews will be used to gain an in depth understanding of this patient experience.
An exploration into the perspectives of Occupational Therapists in working with parents who are adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Scotland
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is deemed as a traumatic event for adult survivors. Research has shown that CSA survivors suffer short and long term negative physical and psychological effects and have higher chances of developing psychiatric conditions and behavioural issues. Parenting is found to be one of the interpersonal difficulties faced by CSA survivors. The literature review has shown that parents who have a history of CSA are likely to have low parenting efficacy and poor performance capacity. This may hamper the parenting role and thus affects the child's development and the relationship with the child. The "Recovering Ordinary Lives" strategy recognises that parenting is an important role to form social identity and Scotland's Survivor Scotland Strategy acknowledges that healthcare professionals play an important role in providing support and care planning for adult survivors of CSA. Occupational therapy is a profession that work closely with various client groups to help people maximise their potential and give them a sense of identity. It is noted that occupational therapists in mental health settings were likely to work with CSA survivors. However, there is currently no literature related to the role of occupational therapists working with parents who are CSA survivors in the United Kingdom. Therefore, a research is proposed to fill the gap. A generic qualitative research is proposed to explore the perspectives and experiences of occupational therapists in working with parents who are CSA survivors. Five mental health occupational therapists from five different regions of Scotland will be selected to participate in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. The interviews will be recorded and analysed using thematic analysis. The results of this research may provide more insight into the current practices of occupational therapists working with CSA survivors.
An exploration into the role of occupational therapy in facilitating military service members to return to duty following mild traumatic brain injury.
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common injury sustained by military service members in combat. Whilst there is research surrounding the practice of occupational therapy in supporting service members to reintegrate into civilian life following mTBI, there is limited research on facilitating them to return to duty. Therefore, this proposal will explore the role of occupational therapy in facilitating military service members to return to duty following mild traumatic brain injury in United Kingdom. It will have a focus on the challenges they experience carrying out activities of daily living (ADLs) upon returning to duty. The literature review showed service members experience difficulties with returning to household tasks, education and relationships. Furthermore, re-establishing roles was a common struggle. Most of the literature was conducted out with the UK, creating a limitation surrounding current literature focused directly within the UK. The literature indicates that there is no evidence to suggest occupational therapy play a key role in the United Kingdom in this area of practice. Using narrative inquiry as a qualitative method of research, the research proposal will aim to hear the stories of military service members in the form of their own narrative. To gain a deep understanding of their experiences, one-to-one interviews will be carried out. It is hoped that by conducting this research, the results will identify whether there is a role for occupational therapy
An exploration into the role of Scottish Paediatric Occupational Therapists in addressing the Occupational Needs of Parentally Bereaved Children
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
Childhood is the time from birth to age 18 years old, ideally where a child lacks any significant responsibilities, is innocent and protected, and encouraged to grow, develop and flourish. Within the United Kingdom, statistics suggest that a high number of children are directly impacted by parental bereavement and that their ability to cope within the home and educational environments may be disrupted as a result of this significant event. Thus the need for healthcare professionals to provide appropriate and timely support is of great importance. The literature review component of this dissertation will consider current research in relation to childhood bereavement services presently available to children and their effectiveness. Additionally, the literature review will discuss the present occupational therapy role for children in these circumstances and explore the future role of occupational therapy for this client group. Occupational therapy is a profession which seeks to gain a holistic understanding of an individual, valuing participation in a variety of activities as containing significant influence over an individual's health. However, at present in the United Kingdom, occupational therapy practice and literature in relation to parentally bereaved children appears to be relatively sparse. A qualitative research proposal originating from a phenomenological design will utilise in-depth semi-structured interviews in order to gain an understanding of Scottish community paediatric occupational therapists' perceptions and experiences of parentally bereaved children and their needs. The research proposal aims to support the expansion of a very limited occupational therapy perspective in relation to parentally bereaved children.
An exploration of dementia caregiving as an occupation within the Sikh community.
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
Dementia is the umbrella term for the range of illnesses and disease symptoms which affect the brain, with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia being the most common (Alzheimer Scotland 2013). A preliminary review of interdisciplinary literature exploring the experiences, perceptions and understanding of dementia within Black Minority Ethnic (BME) communities uncovered a shortage of Occupational Therapy research. This thesis explores BME communities' experiences of dementia. The literature review informs the proposal of a focused ethnographic study - "an exploration of dementia caregiving as an occupation within the Sikh community". This study will recruit 5 participants from the Glasgow Sikh community who are currently the primary caregiver for a family member with dementia and use semi-structured interviews and participant observations to collect data which will provide relevant knowledge of this subject for the Occupational Therapy evidence base and provide knowledge on caregiving for the Sikh community and professionals working with this client group
An exploration of environmental risks factors for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
Occupational therapists consider occupation to be tasks and activities a person partakes in e.g. feeding, growing, interacting with parents and sleeping. Occupational therapy works to enable people to engage with their chosen occupations, in doing this they look at the environment that a person is in and how this influences their functioning. This literature review will look at the impact of the environmental factors of light and noise and how these affect preterm infants. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a unit for babies that are born prematurely (before 37 weeks) who are often medically unwell with a wide range of complications. In Scotland between 2014/2015, 2510 premature infants were born and required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
An exploration of factors contributing to social exclusion for all children in the school environment.
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
This proposal has explored one of the key contributing factors to social exclusion in the school environment; children's attitudes and perceptions. The literature review looks at factors that influenced the children's attitudes and perceptions, towards a hypothetical peer, who presented with an additional need. In the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of children who have an additional need, attending mainstream primary school. However, despite this move towards physical inclusion of these children, it was alluded to in the review, that this does not necessarily result in social inclusion for all children. The information gathered from the literature review gave insight into both the prevalence of negative attitudes and perceptions towards children with an additional need, and it highlighted some of the contributing factors. However, as the literature review was carried out with hypothetical peers, it did not give any insight into what this would mean in a real-life context, with real children. Additionally, the impact negative perceptions and interactions can have on children's social engagement with the occupation of school was not discussed. Thus, the research proposal aims to explore and understand the socio-cultural causes of exclusion in the classroom and how these effect social engagement. The proposed study will be qualitative and adopt an ethnographic approach. The study will recruit one classroom of children between the ages of 9-11 years old (primary 5, 6 or 7) in one mainstream primary school in Scotland, using observation, field notes and interviews to collect data. The data will be collected and analysed using a triangulation of methods and themes will be developed. The author hopes that this proposal will work towards achieving social inclusion for all children in the future, through further research, practice interventions and policy changes.
An exploration of the 'Partnering for Change' model as a strategy to address participation for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder.
(Queen Margaret University, 2017)
Developmental coordination disorder affects 5-8.5% of children aged 5-11 in the United Kingdom. Children with developmental coordination disorder can experience motor impairments, reduced participation in everyday occupations and are liable to develop social and psychological issues such as anxiety, depression and reduced self efficacy. The Scottish Government supports early intervention to identify and support wellbeing for children experiencing difficulties such as developmental coordination disorder. Traditionally children with developmental coordination disorder are diagnosed when they start to attend school. They are then referred to occupational therapy services in order to receive individualised treatment. Partnering for Change is a Canadian based model with potential for implementation within the United Kingdom. The model recognises the need for early identification, the collaborative management of symptoms and the promotion of participation. This in turn helps to prevent secondary issues arising for children with developmental coordination disorder. Partnering for Change supports collaborative practice between occupational therapists, teachers, parents and children. This provides support that enables increased participation in everyday activities at school, at home and in the community. The literature review identifies reduced participation as a concern for children with developmental coordination disorder, demonstrates the effects and consequences of reduced participation and how effective school based models are in combating these consequences. The proposed research aims to explore the perspectives of parents and teachers by using focus groups, when considering the use of Partnering for Change. In order to address reduced participation for children with developmental coordination disorder within United Kingdom primary schools.