Speaker
Description
Introduction:
Despite the recognized importance of parental satisfaction in pediatric physical therapy services, Romania currently lacks a standardized measure tailored to this context. This gap in the healthcare assessment framework complicates the ability of healthcare providers to gauge and improve service quality effectively. Understanding parents' satisfaction is crucial as it directly influences treatment compliance and outcomes. Parents play a pivotal role in the continuation and the effectiveness of the therapies prescribed for their children, making their perceptions a valuable indicator of the quality and success of physical therapy care.
Objective:
This study aims to explore the current landscape of Pediatric Physical Therapy in Romania by assessing the perceptions and satisfaction levels of parents whose children are or have been recipients of physical therapy services. This assessment seeks to fill the void in standardized tools and provide foundational data that could influence future healthcare practices and policy formulation.
Methodology:
To achieve the objective, this research utilizes an adapted version of the MedRisk Instrument for Measuring Patient Satisfaction with Physical Therapy Care (MRPS). The original 13-item MRPS was meticulously translated, back-translated, and then tailored to reflect the cultural and contextual nuances of the Romanian healthcare environment. This adaptation involved the creation of a parent-proxy version in the Romanian language to ensure relevance and comprehensibility. Recruitment for the study was conducted through convenience sampling, drawing participants from various regions to participate in an online survey.
Results:
The survey was launched on March 2, 2024, and involved a convenience sample of parents. It is anticipated that by the time of the conference, statistical analysis of the data, performed using JASP software, will be complete. This analysis will provide insights into the validity and reliability of the adapted instrument as well as initial perceptions of satisfaction among the participants.
Implications and Conclusions:
The adaptation of the MedRisk instrument and the preliminary findings from this study contribute to the literature on parental satisfaction in pediatric physical therapy in Romania. The results are expected to validate the adapted instrument’s potential to capture parental perceptions accurately, offering a promising pathway for ongoing research. Future studies could expand upon this work by refining the instrument and implementing it in broader surveys to enhance the comprehensiveness of data on rehabilitative pediatric care. This endeavor not only addresses a critical gap in the current research landscape but also sets the stage for enhanced therapeutic practices that are responsive to the needs and perceptions of families engaged in pediatric physical therapy.
