The results also provide evidence of discriminant validity of Sensory Profile scores between children with ASD and children with typical development. In addition, the study findings indicate that the Sensory Profile can be used with confidence in cross-cultural contexts, such as Australia.
Background: Health Promoting Activity Coaching, an intervention within the Healthy Mothers Healthy Families programme (HMHF-HPAC), was delivered by occupational therapists in a project that assessed feasibility of this new intervention. The HMHF-HPAC promotes the health and well-being of mothers of children with disabilities and is a six-session programme with website, workbook, and one-on-one coaching. Consumer experiences of this novel health-promoting intervention were sought to enable consumerinformed feedback for future modifications and improvements prior to further development.Methods: This qualitative study explored the experiences of mothers who participated in the HMHF-HPAC and their perspectives on the service delivery, content and impact. This study was embedded within an overarching feasibility study and was conducted parallel to a quantitative component. Seven mothers who completed the HMHF-HPAC participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed thematically using a six-stage thematic approach.Findings: Four key themes emerged: Recognising Mothers; From Vulnerability to Empowerment; A Goal for Me; and Perspectives on Content and Delivery. Mothers reported increased participation in health-promoting activities over the duration of HMHF-HPAC, reflective of their individual needs. Mothers described improved mood and energy levels, reduced stress and anxiety, greater self-awareness, and increased engagement in leisure activities with their children. Health-promoting goals identified by mothers' pertained to improving physical activity levels, healthy dietary changes, sleep quality and duration, community engagement, and mindfulness activities. Mothers reported that their child's occupational therapists, the website, and workbook were acceptable and viable.
Importance: Mothers of children with disabilities experience health disparity. Interventions targeting maternal mental health need to be developed. Objective: To determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the Healthy Mothers Healthy Families–Health Promoting Activities Coaching (HMHF–HPAC) intervention for mothers to improve participation in healthy activities and mental health and to evaluate outcome measures. Design: Nonrandomized controlled pilot feasibility study with one group who received HMHF–HPAC and a control group. Setting: Pediatric occupational therapy service; on site or telehealth. Participants: Twenty-three mothers completed prequestionnaires; of those, 11 mothers participated in the intervention, and 5 did not (7 withdrew). Intervention: Eleven pediatric occupational therapists were trained to deliver six 10-min sessions of HMHF–HPAC to mothers, integrated into their child’s therapy session or separately via telehealth. Outcomes and Measures: Mixed-design analysis of variance explored changes in scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale–21 Items and the Health Promoting Activities Scale. Results: The intervention group reported, on average, significant reductions in depressive symptoms and stress symptoms and significant increases in participation in health-promoting activity. No significant main effect of time was found for these variables in the control group. Conclusions and Relevance: The HMHF–HPAC program is a viable occupational therapy coaching intervention that can be embedded in existing services for families of children with disabilities. Future trials that evaluate the effectiveness of the HMHF–HPAC intervention for mothers of children with disabilities are warranted. What This Article Adds: This article provides support for the feasibility of appropriate and sensitive outcome measures and program content and delivery to implement the novel HMHF–HPAC intervention in further research. Mothers of children with disabilities benefited from integrated HMHF–HPAC delivered by pediatric occupational therapists within the family’s existing services.
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