Parents’ Experiences of Therapy EI for Complex Infants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Parents’ Experiences of Therapy Early Intervention for Infants with Emerging Signs of Complex Neurodevelopmental Difficulties
IRAS ID
169684
Contact name
Deanna Gibbs
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 2 days
Research summary
A variety of neonatal complications can cause infants to present with early signs of long-term complex neurodevelopmental difficulties. Frequently these infants require a high level of early therapy (including speech and language, occupational therapy and physiotherapy) input, which may begin whilst on the neonatal unit, is ongoing around transition into the home environment and continues long-term, commonly following mulit-disciplinary team (MDT) therapy pathways. However, little is known about parental experience of early intervention therapy for these infants transitioning home from the neonatal unit. Within the context of this study MDT will refer to therapy disciplines including, Speech and language therapy (SLT), Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (OT).
This study aims to explore the experiences of parents of infants with complex neurodevelopmental needs who have received early intervention therapy services. By better understanding the experiences of parents of infants who utilise local early intervention MDT therapy provision, the research team can work collaboratively with families to shape local therapy service provision in both the neonatal unit, and as they transition to home.
The study will involve conducting semi-structured interviews with parents of infants with emerging complex neurodevelopmental difficulties, who have been in receipt of MDT therapy services in both the neonatal unit and home/community settings. The interviews will explore parental experiences of neonatal therapy, early therapy intervention in the community (within the first two years of life), and their transition from the acute setting to the community. The findings will be presented to a parent group, who will work collaboratively with the research team to enable co-design of therapy transition pathways and practice that reflect the study’s findings of family-centred care within the local context.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1134
Date of REC Opinion
13 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion