The perspectives of parents/carers on a new parental education occupational therapy intervention.
Teresa Joyce, Anna L Barnett
PMID 42371514WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders found a proposed OT parental-education programme useful and wanted skills in self-regulation and supporting their child, but flagged time, cost, stigma, and inclusivity as design requirements.
This is a views study, not evidence the programme works.
Key findings
01Parents found the proposed PEOP-based parental education programme useful and identified priority learning areas including their own self-regulation, supporting their child's confidence, and managing sibling relationships.
02Parents identified time, cost, stigma, and juggling multiple children as barriers to participation, and called for flexible delivery including online options and weekend sessions.
03Parents stressed the need for an inclusive group environment, including racial diversity among participants and facilitators, accessibility for disabled parents, cultural sensitivity, and clear ground rules.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
No intervention was delivered; this is a views study on a proposed idea, not evidence of effectiveness. The facilitator was the occupational therapist who designed the intervention, which could shape how parents responded. Most discussion focused on general parental education rather than the specific PEOP-based approach, partly because many parents had no prior experience of OT intervention. Virtual focus groups: only a minority of participants had cameras on, and quieter participants often typed rather than spoke, which may have limited interaction. Recruitment via TikTok and first-come, first-served may not represent all parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. 23 participants across three groups is a small sample for a qualitative study, and the authors note that 5% of UK households lack internet access, so virtual-only delivery would exclude some families.
Declared interests
Funded by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Children, Young People and Families Specialist Section Research Award 2022. The authors declared no other conflicts of interest. The funder is a professional body for occupational therapists, not a commercial entity selling the intervention.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read parents' positive views as evidence that a PEOP-based parental education programme improves child or family outcomes. No intervention was delivered; this is a views study on a proposed idea, facilitated by the OT who designed it, and the authors note that most discussion was about general parental education rather than the specific PEOP-based approach.