The WISE initiative was created with the purpose of empowering parents of children with disabilities by improving the quality of care and engagement in pediatric rehabilitation. By fostering a collaborative approach between families and healthcare providers, the initiative seeks to enhance the delivery of FCS through education, goal-setting, and parent support, ultimately improving the overall rehabilitation experience for families.
The methods involved the use of standardized surveys (MPOC, MPOC-SP, LPP, MSPSS, EQ5DL, EQ5D-Y) to assess family-centeredness of care, challenges faced by parents, perceived social support, and quality of life. Parent engagement in goal-setting, based on the F-words framework, was also implemented. Identified gaps led to the creation of the Translating Evidence to Real Life (TERL) project, which trained pediatric physical therapists. Parent education materials, including brochures on disability causes, treatments, and community participation opportunities, were developed. Furthermore, parent coaching workshops, initially led by physiotherapists and later by Parent Champions under the 'Voices of Parents' initiative, were conducted.
Progressive improvement in family engagement at PPTOPS was evident from evolving survey data and the implementation of mitigation strategies. Both quantitative and qualitative parental feedback demonstrated the positive impact of the WISE initiative on family-centered care.
The WISE initiative, grounded in evidence and parental feedback, demonstrates the potential to empower parents of children with disabilities through a collaborative coaching approach. By addressing the gaps in FCS, the initiative improves the overall quality of pediatric rehabilitation services, fostering stronger partnerships between families and healthcare providers.
The success of the WISE initiative highlights a scalable model that can be applied in other healthcare settings, potentially influencing broader policy changes in pediatric rehabilitation. By prioritizing family engagement and shared decision-making, this approach can serve as a blueprint for integrating family-centered care into pediatric services worldwide, ensuring that parents are active participants in their child's care journey.
family engagement
empowering parents
