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Quantifying Parental Perceptions of Their Experiences With Their Young Children's Use of Power Mobility Devices
Naomi J Aldrich1, Lisa K Kenyon, Rachel Lambert
1Department of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan (Dr Aldrich); Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Drs Kenyon, Lambert, Marsman, and Vassuer); College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon (Drs Sloane and Logan); Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (Dr Feldner).
Purpose:
To quantify and explore parental perceptions of their experiences with their child's use of the Explorer Mini (EM) and a modified ride-on car (mROC) in young children with cerebral palsy.
Method:
Data were gathered throughout a multisite, randomized, counterbalanced AB crossover 16-week clinical trial, wherein all participants used device A (EM) and device B (mROC) for 8-weeks each. Semistructured parent interviews were conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention period 1 (T1), and post-intervention period 2 (T2). The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count program was used to objectively analyze the transcribed interviews.
Results:
Twenty-four child-parent dyads participated in the study. Parental perceptions were related to children's gross motor abilities, cognitive development scores, and device use order (EM-mROC or mROC-EM).
Conclusions:
Parents were positive about a potential means of helping their children. While most preferred the EM, opinions were contingent on the PM device, device use order, and child-centered factors.
