Parent and service providers' perceptions regarding the delivery of family-centred paediatric rehabilitation services in a children's hospital

Abstract

Background: Family-centred service (FCS) provision has long since been acknowledged as the 'best-practice' model within paediatric rehabilitation with numerous reported benefits for both the child and their family. Although family-centred care continues to be investigated worldwide using the Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC) survey, to date only two published studies have been conducted within an Australian context, neither of which were within a hospital setting. As a large number of Australian children attend hospital clinics to receive rehabilitation services, research that investigates FCS within this type of environment is required. This study investigated parent and service providers' perceptions of FCS provision within a large Australian metropolitan children's teaching hospital using the MPOC survey.

Methods: A total of 100 parents/caregivers (34% response rate) whose child had accessed hospital paediatric rehabilitation services over a 12-month period completed the MPOC-20 survey. Thirty-two completed MPOC-SP surveys (80% response rate) were received from the hospital's rehabilitation service providers. Qualitative data were sourced from service providers on their understanding of the term FCS.

Results: Parents' perceptions of FCS provision were generally positive, rating Respectful and Supportive Care the highest and Providing General Information the lowest. No significant differences were identified in relation to location of residence, type of disability or number of disabilities per child. Service providers also rated Providing General Information the lowest and felt Treating People Respectfully was strength in the provision of services. Extended responses from service providers indicated that although they possessed a sound understanding of the meaning of FCS, delivering flexible and accessible services and fostering effective communication among all partners were not widely expressed themes.

Conclusions: These results show consistent strengths and weaknesses in FCS provision to children with disabilities and their families and the need to further address the demand for adequate provision of general information.