Background: Recent hair equity initiatives in rehabilitation suggest that the current hair care practices are not effectively serving a diverse patient population. This is primarily due to a lack of inclusivity when addressing the needs of patients with curly and coily hair types, which can negatively impact patient care and rehabilitation outcomes. Despite growing awareness of these gaps, the peer reviewed literature further investigating these inadequacies remains limited. The existing literature is sparse and primarily focuses on these gaps within inpatient settings from a nursing perspective. This highlights the critical need for further research, increased awareness and the development of resources to support equitable hair care practices within rehabilitation settings across a variety of disciplines and settings. Objective: This capstone project aims to explore existing gaps related to equitable hair care in rehabilitation, to develop a resource that will increase healthcare professionals’ knowledge and skills necessary for serving patients with diverse hair types.
ACOTE Area: This project aligns primarily with the ACOTE area: Program Development and Evaluation, with additional relevance to the areas of Research and Advocacy. Methods: Program Development occurred over the first 9 weeks of the capstone experience. During this process literature review findings and a needs assessment informed the creation of program objectives. The student PI then collaborated with site mentor and DEI program coordinator for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), Brandy Kasik, to refine weekly drafts of the program. Finally, a practice run of the program was conducted with CHOA’s support center staff for final refinement. Once program development was complete, the final version was used as the intervention in a one-group pre-post intervention study. Twenty professionals within rehabilitation were recruited to participate in the study. Survey questionnaires were created to evaluate knowledge regarding hair equity practice before and after the program intervention. Participants were given 4 weeks to complete all program components. A mixed methodology design evaluated the program’s effectiveness. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was assessed through content analysis.
Results: The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed statistically significant improvement in 8 out of the 10 assessed areas, indicating that the program successfully met its intended outcomes. Program evaluation scores and qualitative feedback reflected high participant satisfaction with the program’s design, delivery, content and evidence-based foundation. Conclusion and Relevance: Both the quantitative and qualitative findings support the program as a relevant, applicable and effective tool for increasing rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge and awareness regarding equitable hair care practices. Disseminating this resource will foster more equitable care during rehabilitation, promoting favorable outcomes for all patients, regardless of their hair type.