Barriers and Facilitators to Family-centred Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice in the Home setting: A Pilot Study

Purpose: Family-centred paediatric physiotherapy practice is a new and emerging concept in India.  This study aimed to understand paediatric physiotherapists’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to such practice in home settings in Salem city in southern India. Methods: A phenomenological research design was employed in this study. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 5 paediatric physiotherapists who offer treatment in the home setting. Open coding analysis revealed themes that were broadly categorised into barriers and facilitators to family-centred paediatric physiotherapy practice in these settings. Results: Physiotherapists identified several barriers such as educational status, frustrated family members, protective family members, cultural beliefs and external influences. Active participation of family members was perceived as a facilitator to family-centred practice. Limitations: This pilot study has a number of limitations. As the sample size was small and the participants were selected from a small city, the results may not be generalised to larger areas of India. Also, since the interviews were conducted in English, which was not the physiotherapists’ first language, some nuances of their perceptions may not have been reflected. Implications: The study suggests that paediatric physiotherapists need to have better understanding of parental attitudes, and family culture and beliefs, in order to improve the physiotherapist-family relationship and maximise the outcome for children. doi 105463/DCID.v24i4.220