Collaborative Goal-Setting Beliefs and Practices of Out-Patient Pediatric Physical Therapists Working in Saudi Arabia and the United States

Abstract

Aims

(1) identify and compare family-centered care (FCC) and collaborative goal-setting (CGS) beliefs and practices of out-patient pediatric physical therapists (PTs) in Saudi Arabia (SA) and the United States (US); (2) describe CGS approaches; and (3) determine the association between CGS practices and educational level, clinical experience, and FCC beliefs and practices.

Methods

87 PTs completed an online survey.

Results

Ninety percent of PTs believed in FCC to a great extent. PTs in the US rated their organization’s family-centeredness and their own FCC application significantly higher than PTs in SA. PTs believed in CGS with parents (86%) and children (66%) to a great extent while 69% of PTs reported applying CGS with parents to a great extent compared to 39% with children. PTs in SA rated the importance of determining therapy goals by PTs significantly higher than PTs in the US. The most selected CGS strategy was asking about concerns and needs. Low to moderate significant positive associations were found between CGS practices and PTs belief of their organization’s family-centeredness and their own FCC application.

Conclusion

Similarities and differences were found between the two countries in FCC and CGS beliefs and practices. Organizational and individual FCC practices influence CGS practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Collaboration
• collaborative goal-setting
• family-centered care
• goal-setting
• out-patient pediatric physical therapy

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Robert Palisano, PT, ScD, FAPTA for providing his suggestions during the development of the survey; Christina Z. Thompson, PT, DPT, Lisa Schwarcz, PT, DPT, and Maha AlGabbani, PT, PhD for their contribution on the content validity of the survey; APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy and the Saudi Physical Therapy Association for facilitating survey advertisement; and PTs who have responded to the survey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Reema AlShubaily

Reema AlShubaily is a PhD student at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Department at Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a lecturer at the Rehabilitation Health Sciences Department at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Lisa A. Chiarello

Lisa A. Chiarello is a professor at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Department at Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.