title: The roles of effective communication and client engagement in delivering culturally sensitive care to immigrant parents of children with disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Delivering pediatric rehabilitation services to immigrant parents of children with disabilities requires the practice of culturally sensitive care. Few studies have examined the specific nature of culturally sensitive care in pediatric rehabilitation, especially the notions of effective communication and client engagement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were held with 42 therapists (10 social workers, 16 occupational therapists and 16 speech language pathologists) from two locations in Canada (Toronto and Quebec City). Data were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study themes included the importance and nature of effective communication and client engagement in service delivery involving immigrant parents. Participants discussed using four main types of strategies to engage immigrant parents, including understanding the family situation, building a collaborative relationship, tailoring practice to the client's situation and ensuring parents' understanding of therapy procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings illuminate the importance of effective, two-way communication in providing the mutual understanding needed by therapists to engage parents in the intervention process. The findings also richly describe the engagement strategies used by therapists. Clinical implications include recommendations for strategies for therapists to employ to engage this group of parents. Furthermore, the findings are applicable to service provision in general, as engaging families in a collaborative relationship through attention to their specific situation is a general principle of good quality, family-centered care. Implications for Rehabilitation Effective communication permeates the delivery of culturally sensitive care and provides mutual understanding, which is fundamental to client engagement. The findings illuminate the nature of "partnership" by indicating the role of collaborative therapist strategies in facilitating engagement. Four main strategies facilitate effective communication and client engagement, including understanding the family situation, building a collaborative relationship, tailoring practice to the client's situation and ensuring parents' understanding of therapy procedures. Engaging families in a collaborative relationship through attention to their specific situation is a general principle of good quality, family-centered care.
authors.affiliation: Bloorview Research Institute, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario , Canada .
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desmarais
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piérart
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tétreault
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D065246:Culturally Competent Care; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D010372:Pediatrics
keywords: Children; communication; content analysis; culturally sensitive care; engagement; families; family-centered care; listening; parent