Rehabilitation services for children: therapists' perceptions.
The objective of this study was to examine occupational therapists' (OT) and physiotherapists' (PT) perceptions regarding waiting time and the quality and quantity of the services they provide for children with disabilities. A survey was sent by post to all paediatric OTs and PTs in Quebec, Canada. A Service Delivery Questionnaire included questions regarding therapist/client characteristics, waiting times and quality and quantity of services provided. The Measure of Processes of Care for Service Providers (MPOC-SP) rated use of family-centred care by responding clinicians. Waiting times were longest for OT services (p<0.0001), speech/language interventions (p<0.0001) and services in rehabilitation and community health centres (p<0.0001). Quality of services was rated higher by PTs, experienced therapists and those using more methods of keeping up-to-date. The frequency and duration of services varied according to profession, type of clientele and setting. According to clinicians directly involved in the provision of rehabilitation services, long delays exist for children waiting for rehabilitation services, and perceived quality of services differs according to specific therapist and client characteristics. These findings will assist those involved in planning the distribution of co-ordinated rehabilitation services for children.
Mazer
Barbara
B
Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. barbara.mazer@mcgill.ca
Feldman
Debbie
D
Majnemer
Annette
A
Gosselin
Julie
J
Kehayia
Eva
E
D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011792:Quebec; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires