Department of Disability Studies, University of Kelaniya Faculty of Medicine, Ragama, Western Province, Sri Lanka.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ayati National Center for Children with Disabilities, Ragama, Western Province, Sri Lanka.
BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):e056678. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056678.
The quality and the range of vocational training (VT) courses offered to youth with disabilities (YwD) in low-middle-income countries are underexplored. This protocol describes a study designed to gather perceptions of a range of stakeholders related to the quality and relevance of VT programmes conducted by the Department of Social Services in Sri Lanka. The purpose of this study is to communicate with authorities the ways in which they can improve their services by paying close attention to the needs and recommendations of all stakeholders.
A parallel mixed-methods study will be conducted at eight vocational training institutes (VTIs). A survey will be conducted with five participant groups; YwD presently enrolled in VTIs (n=358) and their caregivers (n=358), YwD who completed the VT (n=45) and their caregivers (n=45) and educators at VTIs (n=47). The qualitative component includes semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The three groups of participants include: educators, caregivers of potential YwD for future VT (6-10 per group) and key informants from state, corporate and non-governmental sectors (a total of 20). Quantitative and qualitative data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and cross-thematic analysis, respectively.
This study received ethical clearance from the Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya (Ref. No: P/15/02/2021). All data collection processes will abide by health and safety measures required by the national government. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Results from this research will be disseminated, to local stakeholders and participants, via local and international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
中低收入国家为残疾青年（YwD）提供的职业培训（VT）课程的质量和范围尚未得到充分探索。本方案描述了一项旨在收集与斯里兰卡社会服务部开展的 VT 计划的质量和相关性相关的一系列利益相关者的意见的研究。该研究的目的是通过密切关注所有利益相关者的需求和建议，与当局沟通他们可以改善服务的方式。
将在八个职业培训学院（VTIs）同时开展一项平行的混合方法研究。将对五个参与者群体进行调查：目前在 VTIs 就读的 YwD（n=358）及其照顾者（n=358）、完成 VT 的 YwD（n=45）及其照顾者（n=45）以及 VTIs 的教育工作者（n=47）。定性部分包括半结构式访谈和焦点小组讨论。参与者的三组包括：教育工作者、未来 VT 的潜在 YwD 的照顾者（每组 6-10 人）以及来自国家、企业和非政府部门的主要信息来源（共 20 人）。将使用描述性和推断性统计以及跨主题分析分别分析定量和定性数据。
本研究已获得 Kelaniya 大学医学院伦理审查委员会的伦理批准（编号：P/15/02/2021）。所有数据收集过程都将遵守国家政府要求的健康和安全措施。将从所有参与者那里获得书面知情同意。该研究的结果将通过当地和国际会议以及同行评议期刊上的出版物传播给当地和参与者利益相关者。
