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M. Keckman1, M. Kiviluoma-Ylitalo2, S. Vaininen2
1Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Pori, Finland, 2Satakunta University of Applied Siences, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Pori, Finland
Background: In Finland physiotherapists do not play a major role when working in health promotion or in preventive rehabilitation among young people. The SomeBody® approach offers an opportunity for physiotherapists to work in multidisciplinary teams to promote the health, wellbeing and functioning of children and adolescents. The ICF model is used in SomeBody approach to justify the need for intervention and to promote inter-professional education and collaborative practice. Municipalities are faced with a situation where they need to reform their policies to better meet future challenges.
Purpose: The aim of the project was to spread, instill, research and further develop the tried-and-tested SomeBody approach in the context of municipalities. The impact and cost benefits of SomeBody approach are also evaluated.
Methods: Close collaboration with partner municipalities and organizations focused on the education, development and research of SomeBody approach together. SomeBody instructor education was offered to professionals working in rehabilitation, education or health and welfare. New fields and measures for SomeBody approach were developed. The mixed-method intervention study was conducted to show the causalities of the SomeBody approach to wellbeing. The participants of the intervention study were a sample of the seventh graders and the SomeBody instructors from the secondary school. The data was collected by surveys, questionnaires and interviews. The analysis of the data combined qualitative and quantitative methods.
Results: Different models were found out how SomeBody approach was implemented as a part of the health promotion strategy of the municipality. The reported perception of a new policy was that SomeBody approach was well instilled and professionals had a deep commitment to implement SomeBody approach now and in future. It proved to be crucial to have SomeBody educators of their own who were able to educate new SomeBody instructors in the organizations. This enables to further develop and spread SomeBody approach and the organizations to be self-sufficient. The number of SomeBody approach instructors reached 200. New fields were developed and piloted as FamilySomeBody to support parenting, and SomeBody and Food to support eating competence. In the qualitative analysis, the intervention study showed promising short-term effects in perceived wellbeing among young people.
Conclusion(s): The SomeBody approach is suitable as a part of the municipalities’ health promotion policies. Further studies are needed to show the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the SomeBody approach.
Implications: The change of the structures and activities of municipalities related to health promotion can offer new employment opportunities for physiotherapists in future. SomeBody is a potential method in a physiotherapist´s toolbox.
Funding, acknowledgements: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Promotion of Health appropriation. The project partners are UEF and TUNI
Keywords: inter-professional, health promotion, education
Topic: Education
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Satakorkean tutkimuseettinen toimikunta
Committee: the Ethics committee of human sciences at the Universities of Satakunta
Ethics number: 28062019
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
