An improved working model at the daily activity center. : An improvement work and a qualitative study on the professional’s perception on motivating participants with high-functioning autism to attend daily activities.

Abstract: An improved working model at the daily activity center. An improvement work and a qualitative study on the perception of professionals on motivating participants with high-functioning autism to attend daily activities. Despite daily activities efforts to contribute to personal development, through offering meaningful activities, attendance among participants with high-functioning autism is low as those who have been granted the decision do not fully attend. This increases the likelihood of social isolation. In the absence of evidence-based working methods, the improvement team tested whether modifying the ordinary model would increase participants' attendance. This was through incorporating a model called Step Out. Step Out’s five components focused on increasing participants' motivation, by the professionals seeing the big picture, actively creating trust, working with solution-focused methods, and using motivational interviews. Four participants with low attendance were selected to take part in the intervention. The improvement work was conducted at a daily activity center in a small city in Sothern Sweden. The improvement work aimed to understand why the attendance of participants was low and to increase participant attendance through Step Out. The study aimed to gain an understanding of the professionals' perception of working with Step Out in the improvement work. The study was conducted through a qualitative study with five individual interviews and where the self-determination theory formed the basis for the analysis of professionals' perceptions. The results indicate that the smart goal to double the average attendance of the participants during the intervention was achieved in two participants but was not achieved in the other two participants. In addition, six reasons were shared by the participants on why they did not attend their daily activities. The professionals perceived that Step Out had given them new tools to strengthen the participant's autonomy, competence, and sense of belonging. Structural barriers were perceived as the greatest hindrance to the implementation of Step Out. In conclusion, participants are individuals with unique skills and interests, and professionals at the daily activity center must use an individualized approach.  Keywords: low-attendance, motivation, self-determination theory, Step Out