Caregiver Perceptions of an Interdisciplinary Intensive Therapy Program: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Interdisciplinary Care

Background:

• Children with neurodevelopmental conditions often require intensive, multidisciplinary therapeutic interventions.
• Traditional therapy models may not always meet the complex rehabilitation needs of these children.
• Exploring innovative service delivery models is crucial for optimizing child outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate caregiver perceptions of an interdisciplinary intensive therapy program for children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
• To understand the experiences and perceived benefits of this intensive therapeutic approach from the caregiver's perspective.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 caregivers of children (aged 6-13 years) undergoing intensive therapy.
• The program involved occupational, physical, and/or speech therapy for 3-6.5 hours/day, 3-5 days/week, over 4 weeks.
• Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes from the caregiver interviews.

Main Results:

• An overarching theme of 'Immersive' experience was identified by caregivers.
• Key themes included 'Everybody's Empowered,' 'Principles of Neuroplasticity,' 'Progress Across the ICF Framework,' 'It Takes a Team,' and 'Benefits Outweigh the Challenges.'
• Caregivers reported positive experiences and valued the collaborative, team-based approach to goal setting and care.

Conclusions:

• Caregivers highly valued the interdisciplinary intensive therapy program.
• This intensive, interdisciplinary model may serve as a viable and effective alternative to traditional therapy for children with complex rehabilitation needs.
• The findings highlight the importance of collaborative, intensive therapeutic interventions in pediatric neurodevelopmental care.