Acceptability of a Multimodal Telerehabilitation Intervention for Children Ages 3–8 Years with Motor Difficulties: Results of a Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the acceptability of a telerehabilitation intervention provided to parents of children with motor difficulties.

Material and methods

Sixteen parents of children were purposefully recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews aimed at assessing the acceptability of the telerehabilitation intervention. Interviews were analyzed thematically.

Results

All participants described evolving acceptability associated with their interactions with the web platform. The opportunities generated, suitability in relation to families’ values and perceived effects positively impacted acceptability. The understanding and consistency of intervention delivery, the child’s level of involvement, the associated parental burden of the intervention and the therapeutic alliances created also affected acceptability.

Conclusion

Our study findings support the acceptability of a telerehabilitation intervention for families of children with motor difficulties. Telerehabilitation seems to be more acceptable to families with children without suspected or confirmed diagnoses.

KEYWORDS:

• physiotherapy
• acceptability
• occupational therapy
• pediatric
• telerehabilitation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The WECARE project is supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Early Career Investigator Grants in Maternal, Reproductive, Child and Youth Health (grant number: MRC161356) as well as by matching funds from the CHUS Research Centre, the University of Sherbrooke and the Institut Universitaire de Première Ligne en Santé et Services Sociaux.