Abstract
There is a lack of knowledge with regard to the adherence to different types of exercises prescribed for children with disabilities. The aim was to examine parents’ adherence to prescriptions of different types of home exercises; to identify associated factors related to the parents, the children and the environment, and to assess the relative influence of the behaviour of health professionals. Parents (393) were recruited from 18 early intervention centres. A cross-sectional survey using a self-reported questionnaire was used to examine whether three types of exercises (“flexibility exercises”, “neuromotor development training” and “body mechanics and postural stabilisation”) were prescribed in their home programs; if the child had received exercises according to a prescription; and items related to the parents, child, environment, and health professionals. The adherence rates were different among the types of exercises. Parents with low perception of barriers and high self-efficacy had a higher adherence to neuromotor development training and postural stabilization, whereas parents with a high level of knowledge increased their odds of adherence to flexibility exercises. Health professionals’ behaviour had a distinct influence on the adherence to different exercises. This study suggests the need to specifically consider the types of exercises prescribed in the management of adherence to home programs.
Highlights
The use of Home Exercise Programs (HEPs) for children with disabilities, is a widespread resource that often contributes to an increase in their amount of practice and functioning [1]
This study examined three issues in a population of children with or at risk of developmental disabilities attending paediatric services in early intervention centres: (1) to determine rates of parents’ adherence to different types of exercises featured in their childs HEP; (2) to identify what factors related to the environment, the parents and the child receiving treatment are more likely to be associated to parents’ adherence to these types of exercises; (3) to assess the relative influence of the behaviour of health professionals on parents’ adherence to each type of exercise after making adjustments for associated environmental, parental and child-related factors
We examined parents’ adherence to three different types of exercises included in HEPs and its relationship with factors relating to the parents, the child, the environment and the professional
Summary
The use of Home Exercise Programs (HEPs) for children with disabilities, is a widespread resource that often contributes to an increase in their amount of practice and functioning [1]. The HEPs prescribed for children are usually individualised, based on family goals, and generally include different types of exercises and interventions [2,3]. It is well known that adherence is a desirable and essential behaviour in order to achieve the goals of an HEP. As studies have typically measured parents’ adherence to HEPs as a whole and single construct [5], this percentage could vary for different exercises. Studies on cystic fibrosis have shown that there are different levels of adherence to different parts of a home therapeutic regime, such as pharmacological treatment, nutritional prescriptions and exercise [8]
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