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“We’re all in the same boat together”: exploring quality participation strategies in dragon boat teams for breast cancer survivors

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journal contribution
posted on 2020-03-03, 23:59 authored by Angela J. Fong, Hailey R. Saxton, Kaitlyn D. Kauffeldt, Catherine M. Sabiston, Jennifer R. Tomasone

Dragon boat offers an opportunity to increase physical activity (quantity participation) in breast cancer survivors; however, quality participation experiences have yet to be explored. Quality participation is one’s subjective perceptions and experiences. While there is evidence to suggest dragon boat may offer a quality experience, further exploration is needed.

Guided by a conceptual framework to promote a positive, quality experience in parasport context, the purposes were: (a) to explore strategies that are used to foster elements of quality participation in dragon boat teams for breast cancer survivors and (b) to understand the context in which these strategies are implemented within these teams (i.e., quality participation conditions).

After completing a guiding questionnaire, current and previous leaders on dragon boat teams completed a structured, follow-up telephone interview. Transcripts were thematically analyzed inductively and deductively mapped onto a framework.

Leaders fostered quality participation through elements of challenge and mastery and conditions of the social and physical environments. Facilitating strategies included creating friendly competition, using social media to celebrate success, creating mentorship opportunities and being outside, respectively.

Future research is encouraged to explore identified strategies for consistency to gain a clearer understanding of quality experiences within dragon boat.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

Dragon boat offers opportunities to increase physical activity and participation in breast cancer survivors. These activities have a positive impact on confidence.

Based on findings, practical strategies have developed including creating friendly competition between athletes on a voluntary basis to foster perceptions of being appropriately challenge.

Leaders can use social media to celebrate athletes’ individual successes, which may facilitate increased confidence.

Creating formal or informal mentorship opportunities will allow athletes to be seen as role models for both dragon boat and breast cancer survivorship.

Dragon boat offers opportunities to increase physical activity and participation in breast cancer survivors. These activities have a positive impact on confidence.

Based on findings, practical strategies have developed including creating friendly competition between athletes on a voluntary basis to foster perceptions of being appropriately challenge.

Leaders can use social media to celebrate athletes’ individual successes, which may facilitate increased confidence.

Creating formal or informal mentorship opportunities will allow athletes to be seen as role models for both dragon boat and breast cancer survivorship.

Funding

This research was supported by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation under grant #499062. Kaitlyn Kauffeldt was supported by a graduate student scholarship from Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology. Catherine Sabiston holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Physical Activity and Mental Health.

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