Perceptions of occupational therapists and physiotherapists of early intervention therapy services for infants with or at risk of cerebral palsy: A qualitative interview study.
Helle Sneftrup Poulsen, Alice Ørts Hansen, Lone Walentin Laulund and 2 others
PMID 41172045WHAT IT FOUND
Therapists report that fragmented communication between hospital and municipality services forces parents to carry medical records back and forth.
This burden delays care and creates conflicting advice, while a focus on gross motor skills often causes therapists to miss the early window for hand function intervention.
Key findings
01Fragmented information exchange between hospital and municipal sectors forces parents to act as conveyors of medical records, placing a burden on stressed families and delaying appropriate treatment.
02Therapists report that early intervention focuses heavily on gross motor skills, with hand function addressed later when changing habits is harder, potentially missing a critical window for development.
03Collaborative goal setting with parents is inconsistent and often delayed, with some therapists feeling it is too early for infants, while others struggle to formulate concrete short-term goals.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study only includes therapist perspectives, lacking input from parents or physicians. Findings are specific to the Danish public healthcare system, which may not translate directly to other countries. The first author was a clinician in the same field, which could influence data collection, though steps were taken to mitigate bias. The sample size (26) is small and not representative of all therapists.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by the Danish Occupational Therapists Association, HCA Children's Hospital/Odense University Hospital, and the University of Southern Denmark. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the therapists' reported practices as evidence of what is clinically most effective. The study describes current barriers and habits, such as delayed hand function intervention, not validated outcomes of these approaches.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →