Exploration of the quality of participation in an inclusive ultra-trail initiative for people with a disability: a qualitative ethnographic study

Diagonale des fous inclusive (DDFI) was an initiative to raise awareness towards disability inclusion, generate opportunities in inclusive outdoor leisure-time physical activity, and enhance quality of participation (QoP). QoP is defined as a broad subjective evaluation of satisfaction, enjoyment, and perception of personally valued outcomes that comprises of six experiential elements, including autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning. For two years, the participants in this project took part in trail events across Quebec to prepare before culminating their journey on Réunion Island with a 105-km ultra-trail, one of the biggest ultra-trail events in the world. The aim of this study was to explore QoP and the conditions that shape it among team members preparing for and participating in the DDFI. This study used a qualitative ethnographic design (descriptive and interpretative). Twenty-three participants (aged 26–67 years old; 3 people with a disability, including one adapted all-terrain wheelchair-user) were recruited using purposive sampling. QoP was explored using semi-structured interviews ( n = 19 before DDFI, n = 19 after DDFI). Participant observations were conducted during preparation activities and during the DDFI. Field notes were collected during participant observations to contextualize the data. Thematic analysis was instigated using a mixed approach (deductive and inductive). Four overarching themes were extracted from data: (1) A Human Experience illustrates the life of having a diverse and inclusive group; (2) Long Way to the Top represents the reality of long-term engagement; (3) Call of the Wild encompasses a spectrum of motivations and emotions related to adhesion; and (4) Paving the Way highlights the meaning of DDFI in relation to awareness. This study offers insight into the team's QoP through the experiential elements of autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning. Some conditions to the six elements were highlighted, such as inclusion, experiencing a role, group environment, and spreading awareness towards disability inclusion. Further studies are needed using community-accessible trail opportunities that are inclusive to PWDs to expand on these outcomes.