Project Title: Knowledge Transfer to Improve Teacher Awareness of Students with Fine Motor Problems

Research Team:
Chiu, T.
Graveline, C.
Heidebrecht, M.
LeBlanc, K.
Reid, D.
Sinclair, G.
Wehrmann, S.

Research Partner:
COTA Health

School-aged children who have fine motor problems may be misunderstood as being inattentive, clumsy, or uncooperative by their school teachers. Studies have identified the need to increase school teachers' awareness of fine motor problems. Traditionally, school teachers receive one-to-one consultation from occupational therapists. To reach out to more school teachers, education workshops based on knowledge translation principles have been introduced as a new approach to increase their awareness. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of knowledge translation workshops in improving school teacher's awareness of fine motor problems and occupational therapy.

Three interactive workshops were provided to pre-service teachers (N=34) and service teachers (N=59), including experienced special education teachers. Teachers awareness was measured before, after, and one month following each workshop using the Fine Motor Awareness Scale. Teacher's awareness was improved after all workshops. The mean change scores of the workshops were 1.13, 0.58, and 0.82 (p=0.01 for all). Participants had heightened awareness in two aspects: their knowledge of fine motor problems and their understanding of the role of occupational therapy. Knowledge translation workshops can be used to improve teacher awareness to a board range and large number of teachers; hence benefiting more school children with fine motor difficulties. Funded by a seed grant from the M-THAC Opportunities Fund in 2004.

Selected Presentations:

• Heidebrecht, M., Chiu, T, & Wehrmann, S. Knowledge translation: Improving teacher awareness of children's fine motor difficulties. Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Conference, June 1-3, Montreal, Quebec