@article{Job_Poth_Pei_Wyper_Teresa_Taylor_2014, title={Combining visual methods with focus groups: An innovative approach for capturing the multifaceted and complex work experiences of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevention specialists}, volume={3}, url={https://ijadr.org/index.php/ijadr/article/view/129}, DOI={10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.129}, abstractNote={<p>Job, J., Poth, C., Pei, J., Wyper, K., Teresa, O., &amp; Taylor, L. (2014). Combining visual methods with focus groups: An innovative approach for capturing the multifaceted and complex work experiences of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevention specialists. <em>The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3(1), 71-80</em>. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.129</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This paper discusses the untapped potential of an innovative methodological approach for capturing the experiences of prevention specialists working with women at risk of drug and/or alcohol-exposed pregnancies and live births. Allowing frontline workers to express their personal and professional experiences through a creative activity enhanced our understanding of the difficult-to-measure programming outcomes of a provincial Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) strategy.</p><p><strong>Design:</strong> A multi-method design integrating focus groups with a quilting activity.</p><p><strong>Setting:</strong> Annual General Meeting of the Parent and Child Assistance Program (PCAP)—a prevention program for women at risk for drug and/or alcohol-exposed pregnancies and live births.</p><p><strong>Participants:</strong> Forty-seven FASD prevention specialists from across Alberta, Canada.</p><p><strong>Measurements:</strong> Triangulation across data sources: seven focus groups and 49 quilting pieces.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Thematic analysis revealed four themes: <em>change as a process, client-advocate connection, ecological understanding,</em> and <em>evidence-based practice.</em> The findings from this study contribute improved understanding about the significance of <em>relationships, reflection,</em> and <em>research</em> in the work of FASD prevention specialists.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A multi-methods approach (focus groups with a quilting activity) provided an appropriate and trustworthy means of accessing the prevention specialists’ programmatic experience; that experience has the strong potential for informing future FASD policy, strategic planning, and programming.</p&gt;}, number={1}, journal={International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research}, author={Job, Jenelle M. and Poth, Cheryl-Anne and Pei, Jacqueline and Wyper, Katherine and Teresa, O’Riordan and Taylor, Lin}, year={2014}, month={Mar.}, pages={71-80} }