Exploring the quality of participation and strategies to support meaningful engagement in an adapted paddleboard program among individuals with disabilities
Creators: name: Berthiaume, Jade
name: Ouellet, Béatrice
name: Labbé, Mariève
name: Hebinck, Margaux
name: Robert, Maxime
name: Descarreaux, Mireille
name: Martineau, Pascale
name: Best, Krista L.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Neuroscience
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: Science Policy
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Mental Health

description: Adapted paddleboard provides an outdoor leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) opportunity with many health benefits (e.g., physical activity, reduced stress, social engagement). However, nearly 50% of individuals with disabilities do not participate in any LTPA. Quality of LTPA participation influences sustainable adherence, while optimizing participant experiences. An adapted paddleboard program is offered in Quebec City, for adults with physical disabilities, but little is known about how participants perceive their quality of participation. This study aimed to describe individuals with disabilities’ perceived quality of participation in the adapted paddleboard program, and to explore their suggestions of strategies to support meaningful engagement in the program. An ethnographic mixed-methods design was conducted, consisting of participant observations during the 13-week program and semi-structured interviews based on the Quality Parasport Participation Framework (QPPF). Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation (MeEAP) questionnaire were collected. A mixed approach of data analysis was used for qualitative data and descriptive statistics were conducted for quantitative data. Nine participants (8F) with various disabilities (42±15 years old) participated in the study. Emergent dimensions of quality of participation included belongingness and autonomy. Facilitators to participation were identified, such as autonomy support through volunteers and provision of adaptive equipment. Barriers to participation included water access and level of individual challenge. Suggested strategies to improve engagement included water access closer to parking and multiple groups for variable skill levels. Participants expressed high-quality of participation in adapted paddleboarding. The study allows the development of knowledge about conditions that enhance the experience of participating in outdoor LTPA. Adapted paddleboard is an increasingly popular activity that can be adapted with material and environmental accommodations for people with disabilities to enable and enhance participation in outdoor leisure-time physical activities (LTPA).Several facilitators, such as the safety of the site or the social support created by the group, enhance quality of experience in leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) including adapted paddleboard; therefore, support sustainable adherence in the practice of physical activities, well-being and social participation.Further opportunities to practice LTPA such as adapted paddleboard in a public space to promote social inclusion are necessary. Adapted paddleboard is an increasingly popular activity that can be adapted with material and environmental accommodations for people with disabilities to enable and enhance participation in outdoor leisure-time physical activities (LTPA). Several facilitators, such as the safety of the site or the social support created by the group, enhance quality of experience in leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) including adapted paddleboard; therefore, support sustainable adherence in the practice of physical activities, well-being and social participation. Further opportunities to practice LTPA such as adapted paddleboard in a public space to promote social inclusion are necessary.