A study into the effectiveness of a postural care education programme aimed at improving self-efficacy in carers of children with physical disabilities

Abstract

Background & Aim: Parents and teachers lack knowledge and self-efficacy when providing postural care to physically disabled children. This can act acts as a barrier to the successful implementation of therapy. An intervention was developed to improve knowledge and confidence in providing postural care. The aim is to determine whether this intervention improves parents’ & teachers’ knowledge & confidence. Methods. The intervention includes a 2-hour interactive workshop and follow-up home/school visits delivered in three localities across the South-East. The UKC-PostCarD scale assesses levels of knowledge and confidence in providing postural care was utilised to evaluate the intervention. This will be completed at baseline and after the intervention is completed. Focus groups with participants will provide insight into elements that were effective/ineffective. Interviews with children will provide an end user perspective. Interviews with therapists will consider the feasibility and acceptability of delivery. Analysis: A mixed-design ANOVA 2 (Time: before vs. after) x 3 (Area: Kent, Sussex, Surrey) will be used to determine whether knowledge and confidence improved following the intervention. Framework analysis will be used for the focus group and interview data. Qualitative findings will be fed into the overall evaluation. Findings: Analysis of data will begin in June 2013 and findings will be available in September 2013. Discussion. If shown to improve confidence and knowledge, we hope to make this education programme available regionally and nationally. As more physically disabled children attend mainstream schools this will be a timely and useful resource