Telehealth delivery of paediatric rehabilitation services for children with neurodisability: A comparative case study
Organisation: University of Otago and South Island Alliance
Date of project: August 2021
Update: Project completed
This quality improvement study employs a mixed methods ‘observational study’ of usual/typical care to retrospectively examine the conditions under which paediatric rehabilitation is currently successfully delivered via telehealth technology in community based paediatric rehabilitation services in the South Island, New Zealand. There are three stages to data collection. First, tele-delivery will be examined through a service-wide questionnaire to practitioners to look at their beliefs, knowledge and attitudes toward tele-delivered rehabilitation, In-service training on evidence-based best practice telehealth family-centred rehabilitation (FACE T-Rex) will then be given over a one hour video-conference. Second, six rehabilitation providers will then implement FACE T-Rex in the context of usual care. Case notes of cases in which FACE T-Rex was attempted (up to four clients per therapist, with at least one child identifying as Māori) will be audited against FACE T-Rex key ingredients. Third, practitioners clinical reasoning, and family’s (child and/or parent) experiences will also be explored through semi-structured interviews after the case note review by members of the service.
This study seeks to examine the conditions of implementation of successful tele-delivered rehabilitation (FACE T-Rex) for children with neurodisability and their families, with particular attention to the conditions for Māori. The focus of this study is on a close examination of the contextual factors present and conditions of service delivery when tele-delivered rehabilitation is possible and effective in achieving child and family goals. Findings will advance policy and practice related to successful tele-delivered rehabilitation for children and families in New Zealand.
Specific aims:
1. What conditions facilitate telehealth delivered rehabilitation for children with neurodisability and their families in child development services in NZ to improve participation of children in valued life situations?
2. What distinctive conditions facilitate telehealth delivered rehabilitation for Māori children with neurodisability and their families in child development services in NZ to improve participation of children in valued life situations?
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