Perspectives of parents partnering with physical therapists to deliver intensive rehabilitation for their young children with perinatal stroke: A qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundParental participation in their young children's rehabilitation has been promoted to increase intervention intensity, but parents' perspectives on increased involvement remain unclear. The objective of this study was to explore parents' experiences partnering with physical therapists (PTs) to administer early, intensive rehabilitation to their young children with cerebral palsy (CP).MethodsTwelve mothers and one father of children between 8 months and 3 years old with CP were interviewed. Semistructured interviews were conducted before and after parents partnered with a PT to deliver a 12 week activity‐based intervention targeting their child's lower extremities. The intervention occurred in the child's home and in PT clinical sites. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interpretive description was used as the methodological framework.ResultsThe three themes were (1) focus on maximizing the child's potential, (2) participation in intensive rehabilitation is challenging, and (3) the importance of a positive experience with therapy. Families discussed a number of barriers and facilitators to participating in intensive rehabilitation.ConclusionsThese results provide considerations for clinicians and researchers to facilitate meaningful engagement of parents in their young children's rehabilitation. This is especially important with increasing evidence for early, activity‐based interventions for young children with CP.