Author/Authors :
Vertes, Joan Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy - University of Toronto, Canada , Robinson, Chrystelle Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy - University of Toronto, Canada , Gershenzon, Veronica Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy - University of Toronto, Canada , Ho, Emily S. Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy - University of Toronto, Canada , Vennettilli , Ashlee Department of Rehabilitation Services - The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada
Abstract :
Thebenefitsofgrouptherapyinpediatricrehabilitationhavebeenidentified.However,auniquesmallgroup
occupationaltherapymodelwithalargeemphasisonparentalgroupeducationandobservationoftheirchildrenhasnotbeen
extensivelystudied.Inthismodel,parentsobservetheirchild’ssensorymotorgrouptherapythroughaone-waymirrorand
workwiththeoccupationaltherapisttogetheraftereachsession,toreceiveeducationanddevelopstrategies.Inothermodels,
parentssitinthewaitingroomorobservewithoutworkingwithanoccupationaltherapistasagroupafterwards.Method. A
descriptivequalitativestudywasconductedtoexploretheparentalexperiencesofobservingandreceivinginformationasa
groupregardingtheirchild’sparticipationinsensorymotorgrouptherapy.Individualin-depthinterviewswereconductedwith
tenparentswhoobservedtheirchildrentogetherthroughaone-waymirrorduringtheirchildren’stherapy.Conventional
thematiccontentanalysiswasusedtoanalyzetheinterviewtranscriptstodeterminethemes.Tenparentswereinterviewed.
Results. Therewerethreemajorthemesthatsurfaced:parent support,the value of observation,andknowledge.Parentsenjoyed
andperceivedbenefitsforthemselvesandtheirchildrenfromtheopportunitytoobservesessionsandreceiveinformationasa
groupduringtherapy.Conclusion. Theexperiencesofparentsinthisgroupmodelsuggestthatknowledgetranslationand
provisionofsupporttoparentsandtheirchildrenregardingtheirsensorymotorneedsarebeneficial.Administratorsmay
appreciateadditionalgainsofreducingcostsandimprovingaccesstoservice
