Parent Perspectives on Telehealth Education for Pediatric Rehabilitation

Authors

  • Blair Carsone Assistant Professor, PhD, MOT, OTR/L, BCP, Gannon University
  • Maie Grisham Student ,OTD, OTR/L, Gannon University
  • Breanna Callahan Student ,OTD, OTR/L, Gannon University
  • Bryce Smith Lecturer, OTD, OTR/L, Carsone KIDS, Inc

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/p181tm60

Keywords:

children, Family-Centered Care (FCC), rehabilitation, qualitative research

Abstract

This research study aimed to address the current knowledge gap by qualitatively assessing what parents need for telehealth education programming to be accessible, useful, and beneficial for their families. Interviews and online surveys were utilized to acquire qualitative data over the course of one year. Three themes emerged: current resource utilization, desired resources, and educational supports and barriers. Parents used various online resources primarily to connect with other caregivers and to enhance their child’s skill sets. The subjects desired easy-to-use resources, session notes with visuals, and online forums for support. Consistent communication and resources from pediatric rehabilitation therapists were greatly valued. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of educational programming developed based on the recommendations provided.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Blair Carsone, Assistant Professor, PhD, MOT, OTR/L, BCP, Gannon University

    Assistant Professor, PhD, MOT, OTR/L, BCP, Gannon University

  • Maie Grisham, Student ,OTD, OTR/L, Gannon University

    Student ,OTD, OTR/L, Gannon University

  • Breanna Callahan, Student ,OTD, OTR/L, Gannon University

    Student ,OTD, OTR/L, Gannon University

  • Bryce Smith, Lecturer, OTD, OTR/L, Carsone KIDS, Inc

    Lecturer, OTD, OTR/L, Carsone KIDS, Inc

References

American Occupational Therapy Association.

Advocacy issues: Expanding telehealth [Internet].

North Bethesda (MD): American Occupational

Therapy Association; 2023 [cited 2025 Nov 26].

Available from: https://www.aota.org/advocacy/

issues/telehealth-advocacy

Feldhacker DR, Jewell VD, LeSage SJ, Collins H,

Lohman H, Russel M. Telehealth interventions within

the scope of occupational therapy practice: a systematic

review. Am J Occup Ther. 2022;76(6):7606205090. doi:

5014/ajot.2022.049417

Wijesooriya NR, Mishra V, Brand PLP, Rubin BK.

COVID-19 and telehealth, education, and research

adaptations. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2020;35:38-42. doi:

1016/j.prrv.2020.06.009

Goldman JG, Merkitch D, Brewington D, Peirce

H, Rho M, Jayabalan P, et al. Patient experiences

receiving rehabilitation care via telehealth: identifying

opportunities for remote care. Front Rehabil Sci.

;4:1-13. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1049554

Hung GKN, Fong KNK. Effects of telerehabilitation

in occupational therapy practice: a systematic review.

Hong Kong J Occup Ther. 2019;32(1):3-21. doi:

1177/1569186119849119

Shorey S, Ng YPM, Ng ED, Siew AL, Mörelius E, Yoong

J, et al. Effectiveness of a technology-based supportive

educational parenting program on parental outcomes

(Part 1): randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet

Res. 2019;21(2):e10816. doi: 10.2196/10816

Sprianu C, Krpalek D, Kugel JD, Bains G, Gharibvand

L. COVID-19 and telehealth use among occupational

therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language

pathology practitioners in the United States.

Internet J Allied Health Sci Pract. 2022;20(2):1-7. doi:

46743/1540-580X/2022.2129

Wallisch A, Little L, Pope E, Dunn W. Parent

perspectives of an occupational therapy telehealth

intervention. Int J Telerehabil. 2019;11(1):15-22. doi:

5195/ijt.2019.6274

Alonazi A. Effectiveness and acceptability of

telerehabilitation in physical therapy during COVID-19

in children: findings of a systematic review. Children

(Basel). 2021;8(12):1101. doi: 10.3390/children8121101

Gibbs V, Toth-Cohen S. Family-centered occupational

therapy and telerehabilitation for children with

autism spectrum disorders. Occup Ther Health Care.

;25(4):298-314. doi: 10.3109/07380577.2011.606460

Little LM, Pope E, Wallisch A, Dunn W. Occupationbased

coaching by means of telehealth for families of

young children with autism spectrum disorder. Am

J Occup Ther. 2018;72(2):7202205020p1-7202205020p7.

doi: 10.5014/ajot.2018.024786

Seron P, Oliveros MJ, Gutierrez-Arias R, Fuentes-

Aspe R, Torres-Castro RC, Merino-Osorio C, et al.

Effectiveness of telerehabilitation in physical therapy:

a rapid overview. Phys Ther. 2021;101(6):pzab053. doi:

1093/ptj/pzab053

Dahl-Popolizio S, Carpenter H, Coronado M,

Popolizio N, Swanson C. Telehealth for the provision

of occupational therapy: reflections on experiences

during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Telerehabil.

;12(2):77-92. doi: 10.5195/ijt.2020.6328

Gajarawala SN, Pelkowski JN. Telehealth benefits

and barriers. J Nurse Pract. 2021;17(2):218-221. doi:

1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013

Saljoughian M. The benefits and limitations of

telehealth. US Pharm. 2021;46(8):5-8.

Fingerhut PE, Piro J, Sutton A, Campbell R, Lewis

C, Lawji D, et al. Family-centered principles

implemented in home-based, clinic-based, and schoolbased

pediatric settings. Am J Occup Ther. 2013;67(2):

-235. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2013.006957

White JC, Smith MM, Lowman DK, Reidy TG,

Murphy SM, Lane SJ. Parent support of feeding in the

neonatal intensive care unit. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr.

;19(3/4):111-126. doi: 10.1080/J006v19n03_09

Robeznieks A. Inside the big variations in telehealth

use among physicians [Internet]. Chicago (IL):

American Medical Association; 2022 Jul 11 [cited

Nov 26]. Available from: https://www.amaassn.

org/practice-management/digital/inside-bigvariations-

telehealth-use-among-physicians

Peng S. The tech savvy physician: the hidden burdens

of telehealth. Med Econ. 2022;99(3):6.

Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in

psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77-101. doi:

1191/1478088706qp063oa

Bradshaw J, Bearss K, McCracken C, Smith T, Johnson

C, Lecavalier L, et al. Parent education for young

children with autism and disruptive behavior:

response to active control treatment. J Clin Child

Adolesc Psychol. 2018; 47(sup1):S445-S455. doi:

101080/15374416.2017.1381913

Johnson JL, Adkins D, Chauvin S. A review of the

quality indicators of rigor in qualitative research. Am

J Pharm Educ. 2020;84(1):7120. doi: 10.5688/ajpe71201

Philips N, Sioen I, Michels N, Sleddens E, De Henauw

S. The influence of parenting style on health related

behavior of children: findings from the ChiBS study.

Int J Behav Nutr Phy2s Act. 2014;11(1):95. doi: 10.1186/

s12966-014-0095-y

Hauenstein EJ. The experience of distress in parents

of chronically ill children: potential or likely outcome?

J Clin Child Psychol. 1990;19(4):356-364. doi: 10.1207/

s15374424jccp1904_7

Shandra CL, Hogan DP, Spearin CE. Parenting with

a child with a disability: an examination of resident

and non-resident fathers. J Popul Res (Canberra).

;25(3):357-377. doi: 10.1007/BF03033895

Downloads

Published

2026-04-03

How to Cite

Parent Perspectives on Telehealth Education for Pediatric Rehabilitation. (2026). Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - An International Journal, 20(2), 36-41. https://doi.org/10.37506/p181tm60