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Goal Development Practices of Physical Therapists Working in Educational Environments
Kimberly D Wynarczuk1,2, Lisa A Chiarello1, Catherine L Gohrband3
1a Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences , Drexel University , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
|April 5, 2017
Summary
School physical therapists collaborate with educational teams to create student participation goals. Key factors influencing goal development include school practices, environment, student needs, team support, and therapist motivation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Educational Psychology
- School-Based Interventions
Background:
- School-based physical therapists play a crucial role in student development.
- Goal setting is fundamental to effective physical therapy practice in schools.
- Understanding the nuances of goal development is essential for optimizing student participation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the goal-development practices of school-based physical therapists.
- To identify factors that facilitate or hinder the creation of participation-focused goals within the school setting.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was administered to 46 school-based physical therapists from the PT COUNTS study.
- Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies and cross-tabulations.
- Qualitative data from open-ended questions were analyzed through an iterative process.
Main Results:
- Most therapists reported frequent collaborative goal development with educational team members.
- Teacher, related services personnel, and parent input significantly influenced goal development.
- Five themes emerged: school philosophy/practice, educational environment/routines, student characteristics, team collaboration, and therapist motivation.
Conclusions:
- Goal development in schools is a multifaceted process.
- Effective goal setting involves collaboration among multiple educational team members.
- Practice, school environment, and student attributes significantly impact goal development.