Factors influencing caregiver buy-in to early intervention physical therapy.
Andrea Fergus, Carlee Wyker, Nicole Heyl and 2 others
PMID 38251072WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers and therapists described buy-in as growing when therapists built rapport, explained why activities mattered, fit them into daily routines, and pointed out small progress.
This study reports perceptions, not child outcomes.
Key findings
01Caregivers and therapists described caregiver buy-in as emerging from rapport, family-centered care, coaching, and integration of activities into daily routines.
02Caregivers reported that seeing progress and understanding the reasoning behind activities helped their confidence.
03Questionnaire respondents reported that early intervention physical therapy benefited their child, improved quality of life, and made them feel empowered to care for their child.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample from one rural early intervention agency. 55 caregivers were invited, and 27 completed the questionnaire. The researchers had no information about families who chose not to participate, so the results may reflect only caregivers who already felt positive about services. All questionnaire respondents reported strong buy-in and positive perceptions, so the study could not compare the process in families who did not develop buy-in. Response bias may have produced uniformly positive answers. The qualitative sample was small, and the authors noted that homogeneity may have contributed to reaching saturation. Parental engagement and efficacy were not directly measured, and the relationship between buy-in, engagement, and efficacy was not tested.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that caregiver buy-in improves child development or that physical therapy caused the reported improvements. The study reported caregiver perceptions and interview themes, and the authors said the relationship between buy-in, engagement, and efficacy should be investigated.