Effects of an education programme on family participation in the rehabilitation of children with developmental disability

Health coaching for parents of children with developmental disabilities: a systematic review

AIM

To determine the level of evidence on the effectiveness of health coaching for parents of children with disabilities.

METHOD

A systematic review approach, comprised of a comprehensive, librarian-guided literature search; transparent study selection and data extraction; quality assessment; and synthesis of sufficiently similar data (per population, intervention nature, and overall level of evidence for each outcome using standard definitions) was undertaken.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies (13 randomized clinical trials) were included. Three health coaching approaches were identified: child-targeted (most commonly applied), parent-targeted, and a mixed approach. Overall, there is an insufficient-to-limited level of evidence regarding the effectiveness of these approaches.

INTERPRETATION

High-quality clinical trials using the parent-targeted coaching approach are warranted.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

Health coaching parents of children with disabilities is an emergent practice. Child-targeted, parent-targeted, or mixed health coaching approaches exist. The child-targeted health coaching approach is currently most applied. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder are the most common recipients.

Facing Invisible Dragons

Experiences of interpersonal trauma are not uncommon in families where there is a child with a brain injury, as are escape mechanisms that are used for the purposes of fleeing from unbearable suffering and traumatic memories. Through the courageous path of Zhi Mian, there is an opportunity for siblings to resist the temptation to flee and to choose an alternate path toward perceiving identity and finding meaning. Zhi Mian, facing life courageously and authentically, expands the horizons of consciousness, and opens the way to receive what the “wounded” child may offer a family and to how “relationship” may be understood in various ways. This article was part of the authors’ submission for their presentation at the Second International Conference on Existential Psychology in Shanghai, China.

Les perceptions d’adolescents cérébrolésés, de leurs parents et des professionnels impliqués dans leur inclusion sociale

Cette étude qualitative a pour but d'explorer les perceptions d’adolescents, de leurs parents et de professionnelles quant à l'inclusion sociale d’adolescents ayant vécu un traumatisme craniocérébral (TCC) modéré. Le modèle écologique de Bronfenbrenner (1979, 1986), adapté par Lefebvre et Levert (2005) auprès de la clientèle TCC, est utilisé comme cadre de référence. Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été réalisées auprès d’adolescents cérébrolésés et leurs parents. Les résultats montrent que les perceptions des familles portent sur différents aspects de leur vie, indiquant une multitude de répercussions qui facilitent ou contraignent l’inclusion sociale de l’adolescent TCC modéré. En général, les professionnelles partagent les mêmes perceptions qu’eux. Les résultats de cette étude devraient permettre aux professionnels de la santé une meilleure compréhension de l'inclusion sociale vécue par ces personnes, en plus d'offrir des balises permettant à ceux-ci de mieux soutenir l'inclusion sociale d’adolescents TCC et de venir en aide aux familles dans cette situation difficile.

Perceptions about intellectual disability: a qualitative study from Vellore, South India

BACKGROUND

Cultural and religious beliefs influence perceptions about health and illness. Data, from India, on perceptions about intellectual disability are scant. This study explored people's cultural beliefs and attitudes about intellectual disability, perceived needs and burden associated with care in Vellore, south India.

METHOD

A qualitative methodology using focus groups was employed. Eight focus groups were conducted in three settings and included the mothers of children and adolescents with intellectual disability (four groups, n = 29), community health workers (two groups, n = 17) and schoolteachers (two groups, n = 16).

RESULTS

Our results suggest that cultural and religious beliefs perpetuated negative attitudes towards disability. This meant that caregivers bore a high burden of care with little support from family or society. The study confirmed the presence of diverse, multiple and contradictory models of disability drawing from biomedical and local religious, social and cultural constructs.

CONCLUSIONS

Public awareness, education and community-level interventions for reducing the misconceptions and stigma related to intellectual disability are needed in addition to culturally sensitive treatment methods to improve the attitude towards and management of intellectual disability.