Ms Abby Foster1,2,3, Mrs Lucy Whelan1, Mrs Janet Golder1, Mrs Sharon McLean1, Mrs Alexandra Edwards1, Mrs Sandra Glagovski1
1Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia, 2Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 3La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
Biography:
Abby is an allied health clinician, research and manager with extensive experience providing services in the Australian public health sector. Holding a doctorate from The University of Queensland, Abby is employed as the Allied Health Research Advisor at Monash Health in Melbourne. She loves talking nerdy about qualitative research, and her research is collaborative and multidisciplinary. She focuses her work on creating systems that reduce barriers in healthcare, and supporting allied health clinicians to be their best and love their work. She believes allied health can change the world for the better
Abstract:
Background:
The Victorian Allied Health Assistant (AHA) Workforce Recommendations and Resources (“the Recommendations”) support optimisation of the AHA workforce. Coaching provides guidance, fosters skill development, and enhances motivation, and may support recommendation implementation. We aimed to explore the experiences and impact of 16-week tailored implementation coaching program for allied health professionals and AHAs.
Method:
A mixed methods design was used, incorporating in-depth interviews with participants (n=6) from health services involved in the implementation coaching. Results from these interviews are reported here. Interviews took place immediately post, and at 6 and 12 months. Interviews used a topic guide and were conducted online, recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed through an inductive-deductive content analysis, guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework.
Results:
Preliminary analysis identified participants found coaching enhanced knowledge and supported them to navigate challenges related to the environmental context and resources. Coaching supported participants to set goals, provided reinforcement, and enacted behavioural regulation. Intentions to implement the recommendations mostly remained stable. Social influences were shaped over time by participation in communities of practice. Participants held the coaching in positive regard, while making valuable suggestions for enhancements in future iterations. All saw potential for the use of coaching to enhance implementation in healthcare.
Conclusion:
This research provides new insights into the impacts and experiences of coaching to augment the implementation of the workforce recommendations and resources in public health settings. Findings provide a model for other workplaces to consider and to reference when embarking on the process of implementing the Recommendations.