Parental Perceptions of the Parent-Therapist Relationship: Effects on Outcomes of Early Intervention

ABSTRACT

Federal law mandates that early intervention (EI) programs provide care using a family-centered model. The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate (a) the relationship that develops between physical therapists and parents during EI and (b) a possible link between this relationship and EI outcomes. Thirty-nine parents of children with identified motor delays participated in this study. Data were collected through use of standardized measures and surveys developed for the study. Results of one-way ANOVA indicated that parents in the collaborative typology experienced significantly less stress and higher levels of parenting competence than parents in the distant typology. Parents in the collaborative typology also reported their EI program was more family centered. Child outcomes as related to the relationship typology were not significant, but the trend observed suggests further study is warranted. These findings suggest that measuring two specific relationship characteristics, satisfaction and control, may be helpful when trying to conceptualize and evaluate the parent-therapist relationship. This relationship evaluation may provide guidance to clinicians seeking to develop more collaborative relationships with families.

KEYWORDS. :

• Child
• early intervention
• infant
• outcomes
• parents
• parent-therapist relationship
• physical therapy

APPENDIX A

Satisfaction Survey

This questionnaire is designed to assess how satisfied you are with the physical therapy your child has received. You are asked to answer each item on a scale from 1 (not true of you and/or your experience) to 5 (very true of you and/or your experience).

Table

• I have confidence in the skills and expertise of my child's physical therapist.

• I trust my child's physical therapist.

• I like how the physical therapist interacts with my child.

• I am comfortable discussing my questions and concerns with my child's physical therapist.

• I feel at ease with my child's physical therapist.

• I have been given helpful resources by my child's physical therapist.

• Overall, I am satisfied with the progress my child is making in physical therapy.

• Physical therapy helps both my child and our family.

• My child's physical therapist helps us to be optimistic about the future.

• My child's physical therapist points out what my family and I do well.

• My child's physical therapist is considerate of our family's other responsibilities.

APPENDIX B

Control Survey

This questionnaire is designed to assess how involved you have felt during your child's evaluation and intervention. You are asked to answer each item on a scale from 1 (not true of you and/or your experience) to 5 (very true of you and/or your experience).

Table

• I make decisions about the types of services my child receives.

• I participated in or helped to plan my child's evaluation.

• I have final say when making decisions about my child's care.

• I was given options when selecting an intervention program for my child.

• I participate in or observe my child's individual sessions with his/her therapist.

• I consider myself to be the expert on my child and his or her needs.

• I have a good understanding of my child's medical diagnosis.

• I understand the results of my child's developmental assessments.

• I am an active participant on my child's early intervention team.

• I chose when and where my child's therapy would take place.

• I identified intervention goals for my child.

• I am well informed and therefore able to make good decisions about my child's intervention program.