As a therapist working in an educational setting, I am always on the lookout for ways to enhance the support we provide to children with disabilities and their families. Recently, I came across an insightful research article titled "Fidelity of family centered care model to early disability diagnosis and rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates." This study provides valuable findings that can help practitioners like us improve our skills by implementing family-centered care (FCC) in our practice.
Family-centered care emphasizes strong partnerships between health professionals and families, focusing on the holistic needs of the child. This model has been widely adopted in Western countries but is relatively new in regions like the UAE. The study conducted by Opoku et al. explored the appropriateness of the FCC model in the UAE, providing some compelling outcomes that we can learn from.
Key Findings from the Study
The research involved 150 health professionals from various health facilities, rehabilitation centers, and schools in Abu Dhabi. The study utilized the 27-item Measure of Process of Care for Service Providers (MPOC-SP) to assess the implementation of FCC. Here are some of the key findings:
- Applicability of MPOC-SP: The confirmatory factor analysis supported the use of MPOC-SP in the UAE context, indicating that the four components of FCC—Treating people with respect, Interpersonal sensitivity, Communicating specific information, and Providing general information—are relevant and applicable.
- High Ratings on Respect: Health professionals rated themselves highly on treating people with respect but lower on providing general information. This aligns with findings from other contexts, suggesting a need for better training in providing comprehensive information to families.
- Geographical Differences: Practitioners in Abu Dhabi rated their implementation of FCC higher than those in Al Ain, indicating regional disparities in the adoption of FCC practices.
- Gender Differences: Male professionals reported higher levels of confidence in communicating specific information compared to female professionals, highlighting the need for targeted training to boost confidence among female practitioners.
Implementing FCC in Your Practice
Based on these findings, here are some actionable steps you can take to implement FCC more effectively in your practice:
- Emphasize Respect and Sensitivity: Continue to prioritize treating families with respect and showing interpersonal sensitivity. These are strengths that can be built upon.
- Enhance Information Sharing: Focus on improving how you provide general information to families. This could include financial guidance, genetic counseling, and connecting families with community resources.
- Regional Training Programs: Advocate for and participate in regional training programs to ensure consistent implementation of FCC practices across different areas.
- Gender-Specific Support: Provide targeted support and training to boost confidence among female health professionals in communicating specific information.
Encouraging Further Research
The study highlights the importance of FCC in improving early disability diagnosis and rehabilitation. However, more research is needed to understand the unique challenges and opportunities in different regions and among different professional groups. I encourage you to delve deeper into this topic and consider conducting your own research to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on FCC.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Fidelity of family centered care model to early disability diagnosis and rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates.
