The rise of virtual care technologies is revolutionizing the way health services are delivered, particularly in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology. However, the success of these services often hinges on the participation of pediatric caregivers. A recent scoping review titled "Barriers and facilitators to paediatric caregivers’ participation in virtual speech, language, and hearing services" sheds light on what influences caregiver involvement and offers valuable insights for practitioners.
Key Findings
The review identified eight main categories influencing caregiver participation:
- Attitudes: Positive attitudes towards virtual care, such as confidence in the quality of care and willingness to use or recommend virtual services, can significantly boost caregiver participation.
- Child Behavioral Considerations: Behavioral challenges like tantrums or difficulty staying in one place can hinder participation. Conversely, a child's comfort with technology can reduce anxiety and improve engagement.
- Environment: The home environment can either facilitate or obstruct virtual care. A distraction-free setting is crucial for effective participation.
- Opportunities: Factors like reduced travel time, lower costs, and scheduling flexibility make virtual care more accessible and convenient for caregivers.
- Provider-Family Relationship: Effective communication and a strong therapeutic relationship between providers and families are essential for successful virtual care.
- Roles in Care Process: Active caregiver involvement, such as assisting or co-delivering interventions, enhances the virtual care experience.
- Support: Training and support personnel can significantly improve caregiver participation by providing the necessary skills and assistance.
- Technology: Access to reliable technology and internet, as well as comfort with using these tools, are critical for successful virtual care.
Implementing the Findings
To leverage these findings, practitioners can:
- Foster Positive Attitudes: Educate caregivers about the benefits and effectiveness of virtual care to build confidence and enthusiasm.
- Address Behavioral Challenges: Develop strategies to manage children's behavior during virtual sessions, such as incorporating engaging activities.
- Create a Conducive Environment: Guide families on setting up a distraction-free space for virtual appointments.
- Maximize Opportunities: Offer flexible scheduling and minimize costs to make virtual care more appealing and accessible.
- Strengthen Relationships: Focus on building rapport and maintaining open communication with caregivers.
- Encourage Active Participation: Involve caregivers in the care process by providing clear instructions and feedback.
- Provide Training and Support: Offer training sessions and access to support personnel to help caregivers navigate the technology and care process.
- Ensure Technological Access: Provide or recommend reliable technology and internet solutions to families.
Encouraging Further Research
While this review provides a comprehensive overview, further research is needed to explore the impact of caregiver socio-demographics on participation and the effectiveness of various training methods. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of knowledge by sharing their experiences and insights.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Barriers and facilitators to paediatric caregivers’ participation in virtual speech, language, and hearing services: A scoping review.
