https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6190-3997
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ABSTRACT
Background
Parents of children with disabilities often report stress, depression, and anxiety. This review identified screening tools and practices that pediatric rehabilitation service providers can use to screen the mental health of parents of children with disabilities
Methods
An interdisciplinary team and patient partner completed the systematic review in which 16,015 articles were screened and 473 articles were included to i) identify mental health tools that were used with parents, ii) determine the clinical utility of frequently used tools, iii) examine the screening practices used in pediatric rehabilitation contexts
Results
115 screening tools were used to screen parents’ mental health. The Parenting Stress Index was used most often. Seven studies reported screening in order to recommend further assessment or supports. Increased awareness, training, resources, and infrastructure are needed to support parents’ mental health
Discussion
Evidence is needed to guide mental health screening practices in pediatric rehabilitation and determine their effectiveness.
Acknowledgments
Our team gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Research Librarian Pui Ying Wong who provided guidance in the development of the search terms and strategy. We are thankful to the McMaster Speech-Language Pathology Evidence-Based Practice students who investigated the clinical utility of the parent mental health screening tools, Daniella Manna, Madeeha Wyne, Shana Train, and Miranda Wayland.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).