"Family-centered" Pediatric Rehabilitation Services in Children With Developmental Disabilities

Chang Gung University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autistic Spectrum Disorder; Developmental Disabilities

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02057809

102-3767B

Details and patient eligibility

About

Developmental disability is a severe chronic disabled condition caused by mental or physical impairments. Children with developmental disabilities may face life-long difficulties in motor functioning, self-care, condition, communication, and independent living. They often receive rehabilitation services to promote daily functions and participation in home, school, and community lives.

"Family-centered" service has been considered as "best practice" in pediatric rehabilitation. Therapists encourage children with developmental disabilities and their parents to participate in decision making and implementing process of intervention, and provide intervention plan that best fit their family needs. Research shows that for children with developmental disabilities, family-centered services can enhance children's development, decrease parenting stress, promote emotional wellness, and increase parental satisfaction to services. Though the "family-centered" concept has been considered as relevant in pediatric rehabilitation, there are still difficulties, as well as a lack of evidence regarding its implementation in practice.

Reflecting the trend of family-centered medical care, the benefits of national health insurance in Taiwan for early intervention outpatient care will emphasize on family-centered intervention. The range of benefits may include communication with parents, parental education, consultation and instructions for home programs. Besides, outcomes of family-centered intervention will be treated as an important index for monitoring the quality of medical services.

Given that there is a lack of investigation regarding the family-centered pediatric rehabilitation, the purposes of this one-year research project are to investigate the implementation of family-centered pediatric rehabilitation for children with developmental disabilities and to identify related influencing factors. This study will provide empirical evidence for family-centered services in Taiwan.

Enrollment: 130 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 2 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. children aged 2 to 12 years.
2. children with a primary diagnose or condition associated with developmental disabilities, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, learning disorders, cerebral palsy, and other developmental delay.
3. parents agree to participate in this study.

Exclusion criteria

1. children with unstable physical conditions, such as cancer, having surgery within 3 months, infection, or other active medical conditions.
2. children with progressive disease (e.g. neuromuscular disease) or degenerative disorders (e.g. degenerative seizures).

Trial design

130 participants in 2 patient groups

Parent-child dyad

Description:

Children with Developmental Disabilities and their parents

Therapits

Description:

Therapists experienced in serving children with developmental disabilities