title: Goal Development Practices of Physical Therapists Working in Educational Environments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to (1) describe the practices that school-based physical therapists use in developing student goals, and (2) identify facilitators and barriers to development of goals that are specific to participation in the context of the school setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  46 school-based physical therapists who participated in a previous study on school-based physical therapy practice (PT COUNTS) completed a questionnaire on goal development. Frequencies and cross tabulations were generated for quantitative data. Open-ended questions were analyzed using an iterative qualitative analysis process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A majority of therapists reported that they frequently develop goals collaboratively with other educational team members. Input from teachers, related services personnel, and parents has the most influence on goal development. Qualitative analysis identified five themes that influence development of participation-based goals: (1) school-based philosophy and practice; (2) the educational environment, settings, and routines; (3) student strengths, needs, and personal characteristics; (4) support from and collaboration with members of the educational team; and (5) therapist practice and motivation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Goal development is a complex process that involves multiple members of the educational team and is influenced by many different aspects of practice, the school environment, and student characteristics.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences , Drexel University , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.|b School of Physical Therapy , Kean University , Union , New Jersey , USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wynarczuk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences , Drexel University , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Chiarello
authors.affiliation: c College of Health Sciences , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gohrband
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Collaboration; goal development; participation-based goals; physical therapy; school-based practice; special education