Saarinen J.1
1Helsinki University Hospital, Physioterapy, Helsinki, Finland
Background: Botulinum is commonly used to decrease children's muscle overactivity related to neurological disorders. Home exercises are used to support effects of botulinum treatment. Exercises play an important role after botox treatment which requires parents' active participation to assist, support and guide child in specific movements after first receiving guidance from the physiotherapist.
Purpose: Aim of this study was to understand parents' conceptions of goal setting in physiotherapy after their child's botox -treatment.
Methods: There were 11 participants, which were the members of five families (n=11). All participants were interviewed at their homes in the Southern Finland. Parents and children both participated in the interviews. Interviews were transcribed and after that analyzed by using phenomenography.
Results: Results showed great variation in parents´ conceptions of their child´s therapy goals. Four hierarcially structured categories of description were recognized: I) Recognizing the goal, II) Connection between exercise and goal, III) Commitment to goal and IV) Exercise as part of life. Three themes were also described: 1) Goal internalizing, 2) Promoting of functional capacity and 3) Knowledge of the goal.
Conclusion(s): In aspect of guidance, there were two critical aspects: first proceeding from recognizing goal to understanding the connection of exercises and the goal. Second critical aspect is after commitment to the goal to get exercises as part of life. Two critical (aspects) phases require sensitivity of the professional to recognize in which phase parents and children are with their exercises and also capability to give guidance needed to proceed and cope with the challenges of rehabilitation.
Implications: From the motor learning perspective it is important to give parents information in the beginning of the process and later on offer alternative exercises in different life situations.
Funding acknowledgements: No Funding acknowledgements
Topic: Paediatrics
Ethics approval: The Research Ethics Committee at the HUCH Hospital for Children and Adolescents approved this study.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
