Exploring Parent Perspectives of Feasibility After Intensive Telerehabilitation for Children with Unilateral Cerebral
Elizabeth Maus1, Angela Rittler1, Kylie Amon1
1The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA.
Insights
Parent-enacted telehealth pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy (pCIMT) is feasible and acceptable for children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). Further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy of this innovative pediatric therapy approach.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Telehealth Interventions
- Neurorehabilitation
Background:
- Unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor function in children.
- Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is effective but often challenging to deliver.
- Telehealth offers a potential solution to improve accessibility of pediatric therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of parent-enacted telehealth pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy (pCIMT).
- To assess the usefulness, usability, and desirability of the technology used for telehealth pCIMT.
- To identify implementation potential, advantages, disadvantages, and logistical considerations of telehealth pCIMT.
Main Methods:
- Adapted a pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy (pCIMT) intervention for telehealth delivery.
- 12 children with unilateral CP received 20 sessions of telehealth pCIMT over 4 weeks.
- Quantitative data collected via Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of Intervention Measure (FIM, AIM, IAM) and Usefulness, Usability and Desirability (UUD) assessments.
- Qualitative data gathered through semi-structured parent interviews and analyzed using inductive content analysis.
Main Results:
- Quantitative and qualitative data supported the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of telehealth pCIMT.
- High median scores were reported for feasibility (20/20), appropriateness (20/20), usefulness (6/7), and usability (6.5/7).
- Parent interviews identified key themes in implementation potential, advantages, disadvantages, and logistical factors.
Conclusions:
- Parent-enacted telehealth pCIMT is a feasible, acceptable, and appropriate intervention for children with unilateral CP.
- The study technology demonstrated usefulness, usability, and desirability.
- While promising, telehealth pCIMT requires further investigation to establish its efficacy.
Abstract:
To test the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of parent-enacted telehealth pediatric constraint induced movement therapy (pCIMT) for children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). A pCIMT intervention was adapted for telehealth. Participants (n = 12) received 20 sessions (daily, 3 h each) of telehealth pCIMT over 4 weeks. Quantitative data was collected using the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of Intervention Measure (FIM, AIM, IAM) and Usefulness, Usability and Desirability (UUD). Qualitative data was collected via semi-structured, post-treatment, parent interviews and coded using inductive content analysis and constant comparison. Quantitative and qualitative results support feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of telehealth pCIMT and usefulness, usability, and desirability of study technology. Median scores on Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of Intervention Measure (out of 20 possible points) were 20 (IQR = 5.75), 18.5 (IQR = 3.75) and 20 (IQR = 4), respectively; median ratings on the Usefulness, Usability and Desirability Assessment (7 point likert scale 1-7) were 6 (IQR = 1), 6.5 (IQR = 1), and 6 (IQR = 2.5) respectively. Content analysis of parent interviews yielded three categories: Implementation Potential, Advantages and Disadvantages, and Logistical Considerations. Telehealth pCIMT was feasible, acceptable, and appropriate but is not without challenges. A demonstration of the efficacy of telehealth pCIMT is needed. Registered on Clinicaltrials.gov on 3/21/2022 with ID NCT05303883.
Supplementary Information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10882-025-10033-9.
