Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences

Exploring the Experiences of Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy about Therapists’ Rehabilitation Services in Ahvaz, Iran: A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 MSc Student, Department of Rehabilitation Management, School of Rehabilitation Sciences AND Ahvaz Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences AND Ahvaz Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

3 PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Counseling AND Lecturer, Department of Rehabilitation Management, School of Rehabilitation Sciences AND Ahvaz Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

4 Assistant Professor in, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

10.22122/jrrs.v16i0.3529

Abstract

Introduction: Dealing with a child with cerebral palsy (CP) is often accompanied by numerous limitations and troublesome parenting and long-term rehabilitation services may impose high pressure on parents. The therapists should understand the needs and expectations of parents to provide appropriate services to them. So, this study is conducted aiming to explore the experiences of parents of children with CP about therapists’ rehabilitation services in Ahvaz, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this qualitative study, 10 parents of children with CP were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used for data gathering. Interview questions were about the experience of parents about therapists’ rehabilitation services. The data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis through constant comparative method.Results: The data analysis led to a category named “characteristics of therapists providing rehabilitation services” that was divided into three subcategories including “clinical competency, adherence to professional duties, and adherence to professional ethics”. Clinical competency consisted of being scientifically certified, being experienced in the field, and masculine attitude and adherence to professional duties included parent training, understanding the parents’ conditions, and attention to parents’ therapeutic priorities. Finally, the adherence to professional ethics was comprised of consideration of ethical issues regarding children and parents.Conclusion: Parents of children with CP stressed the need for therapists with clinical competencies, perform professional duties, and adhere to professional ethics. Therefore, therapists could provide better services through applying and implementing these principles.

Keywords

  1. Rassafiani M, Ziviani J, Rodger S. Perceived level of disability: factors influencing therapists' judgment for clients with cerebral palsy. Hong Kong J Occup 2008; 18(1): 12-9.
  2. Jalili N, Goodarzy M, Rassafiani M, Farzi M. Effectiveness of a parent training program on knowledge of mothers regarding the proper care of children with cerebral palsy. J Res Rehabil Sci 201; 8(3): 502-10. [In Persian].
  3. Alaee N, Mohammadi-Shahboulaghi F, Khankeh H, Mohammadkhan Kermanshahi S. Effective factors on caring role of parents of children with cerebral palsy. Avicenna J Nurs Midwifery Care 2019; 27(1): 55-63. [In Persian].
  4. Mokhtari M, Abootorabi F. Lived experiences of mothers of children with cerebral palsy in Iran: A phenomenological study. Child Youth Serv 2019; 40(3): 224-44.
  5. Babaei M, Rassafiani M, Ghahari S, Hosseini M, Fatourechi S. Rehabilitation experiences of people with cerebral palsy: A literature review. J Res Rehabil Sci 2014; 9(3): 1309-22. [In Persian].
  6. Dalvand H, Rassafiani M, Bagheri H. Family centered approach: A literature the review. J Mod Rehabil 2014; 8(1): 1-9. [In Persian].
  7. King G, Chiarello L. Family-centered care for children with cerebral palsy: Conceptual and practical considerations to advance care and practice. J Child Neurol 2014; 29(8): 1046-54.
  8. Mohamadian F, Sourtiji H, Hosseini SMS. A new approach in rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. J Res Rehabil Sci 2011; 7(5 Suppl): 758-65. [In Persian.
  9. Rosenbaum P. Cerebral palsy: What parents and doctors want to know. BMJ 2003; 326(7396): 970-4.
  10. Kruijsen-Terpstra AJ, Ketelaar M, Boeije H, Jongmans MJ, Gorter JW, Verheijden J, et al. Parents' experiences with physical and occupational therapy for their young child with cerebral palsy: a mixed studies review. Child Care Health Dev 2014; 40(6): 787-96.
  11. Kruijsen-Terpstra AJ, Verschuren O, Ketelaar M, Riedijk L, Gorter JW, Jongmans MJ, et al. Parents' experiences and needs regarding physical and occupational therapy for their young children with cerebral palsy. Res Dev Disabil 2016; 53-54: 314-22.
  12. Saloojee GM, Rosenbaum P, Stewart A. Using caregivers’ perceptions of rehabilitation services for children with cerebral palsy at public sector hospitals to identify the components of an appropriate service. S Afr J Physiother 2011; 67.
  13. Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today 2004; 24(2): 105-12.
  14. Lincoln YS, Lynham SA, Guba EG. Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences, revisited. In: Denzin NK, Lincoln YS, editors. The Sage handbook of qualitative research. 4thed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 2011. p. 97-128.
  15. Adib Hajbaghery M, Eshraghi Arani N. assessing nurses' clinical competence from their own viewpoint and the viewpoint of head nurses: A descriptive study. Iran J Nurs 2018; 31(111): 52-64. [In Persian].
  16. Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010). Am J Occup Ther 2010; 64(6-Suppl): S17-S26.
  17. Rassafiani M. Is length of experience an appropriate criterion to identify level of expertise? Scand J Occup Ther 2009; 16(4): 247-56.
  18. Maxim AJM, Rice MS. Men in occupational therapy: Issues, factors, and perceptions. Am J Occup Ther 2018; 72(1): 7201205050p1-7.
  19. Khaytzadeh-Mahani M, Hassani-Mehraban A, Kamali M, Parvizi S. Identification of attitude and experience of Iranian occupational therapists about occupation based practice, development and validation of its measurement scale: A sequential mixed method [PhD Thesis]. Tehran, Iran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2015. [In Persian].
  20. Khayyatzadeh-Mahani M, Hassani-Mehraban A, Kamali M, Parvizi S. Declination from occupation based practice: experience of iranian occupational therapists. J Rehab 2015; 16(2): 156-67. [In Persian].
  21. Dalvand H, Rassafiani M, Hosseini SA, Khankeh HR, Samadi S. Handling challenges in the children with cerebral palsy: A qualitative content analysis. J Res Rehabil Sci 2014; 9(8): 1267-80. [In Persian].
  22. Razavi ZA, Rassafiani M, Sarfaraz Z, Malekpour M, Salehi M. A survey on caregivers' knowledge about special caring for 1-to-5 year-old children with cerebral palsy and their compliance with these practices. J Res Rehabil Sci 2013; 9(4): 618-28. [In Persian].
  23. Huang IC, Sugden D, Beveridge S. Assistive devices and cerebral palsy: Factors influencing the use of assistive devices at home by children with cerebral palsy. Child Care Health Dev 2009; 35(1): 130-9.
  24. Copley J, Ziviani J. Barriers to the use of assistive technology for children with multiple disabilities. Occup Ther Int 2004; 11(4): 229-43.
  25. Taylor RR. The intentional relationship: Occupational therapy and use of self. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company; 2020.
  26. Cameron D, Craig T, Edwards B, Missiuna C, Schwellnus H, Polatajko HJ. Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP): A new approach for children with cerebral palsy. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr 2017; 37(2): 183-98.
  27. DeGrace BW. Occupation-based and family-centered care: A challenge for current practice. Am J Occup Ther 2003; 57(3): 347-50.
  28. Jahanbin P, Abdi K, Khanjani M S, Hosseini M A. Exploring barriers of teamwork in providing rehabilitation services: a qualitative content analysis. J Rehab 2019; 20(3): 210-21. [In Persian].
  29. Stratil JM, Rieger MA, Volter-Mahlknecht S. Cooperation between general practitioners, occupational health physicians, and rehabilitation physicians in Germany: What are problems and barriers to cooperation? A qualitative study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2017; 90(6): 481-90.
  30. Kalantari M, Kamali M, Joolaee S, Rassafiani M, Shafarodi N. Perception of professional ethics by Iranian occupational therapists working with children. J Med Ethics Hist Med 2015; 8: 8.
  31. Vahidi H, Shafaroodi N, Joolaee S. Occupational therapists’ perception of unethical practice in adults’ physical dysfunction field. Rehabilitation Medicine 2015; 4(2): 70-8. [In Persian].
  32. Kalantari M, Kamali M, Joolaee S, Shafarodi N, Rassafiani M. Factors affecting ethical behavior in pediatric occupational therapy: A qualitative study. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2015; 29(1): 1076-82.
Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences
Volume 16, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
April 2020
Pages 126-134