Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Stress and compliance with a home exercise program among caregivers of children with disabilities
Shari A Rone-Adams1, Debra F Stern, Vicki Walker
1Program in Physical Therapy, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33328, USA. srone@nsu.nova.edu
Purpose:
To determine the relationship between caregiver stress and compliance with home programs in caregivers of children with disabilities.
Methods:
Sixty-six caregivers of children with disabilities responded to a mailed survey to determine their level of compliance with a prescribed home physical therapy program and the level of caregiver stress. Compliance was defined as the degree to which caregivers followed the prescribed frequency of the home program.
Results:
Sixty-six percent of the caregivers reported some level of noncompliance with their home program. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between the caregivers' level of noncompliance with the home program and the level of stress that they reported. Correlation coefficients showed a significant relationship between family problems and noncompliance with home programs. As caregiver and family problems increased, noncompliance with home programs increased.
Conclusions:
Caregivers of children with disabilities experience stress that should be addressed by therapists to maximize compliance with home programs.
