Dataset Information

The impact of digital physical therapy during COVID-19 lockdown in children with developmental disorders: A qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Digital physical therapy was performed within early intervention sessions for children with developmental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no known qualitative study that addresses the perspectives of parents with digital practice for early intervention.

Objective

To describe the parents' experiences with digital physical therapy for early intervention in children during COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

A qualitative phenomenological study. Purposive sampling was conducted, including 16 parents of the children participating in the early intervention program. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and researchers' field notes. An inductive analysis was performed.

Results

Four themes emerged: a) ambivalent experiences about digital physical therapy: telehealth can be a good solution in times of COVID-19, however, it was also perceived as difficult and insufficient; b) barriers encountered for its implementation: describing factors related to physical aspects, training, and time, and difficulties maintaining the child's attention; c) perceived facilitators during its use: based on digital accessibility, availability, and adaptability of the therapist and the rest of the family; d) future possibilities of digital physical therapy: suggested uses for after the lockdown, such as a complement that facilitates communication and as a follow-up with older children.

Conclusions

Our findings help shed light on the possible benefits of digital physical therapy in children with developmental disorders, considering the perspectives of families. However, there are several difficulties to be overcome to successfully implement this type of therapy and optimize its future possibilities.

SUBMITTER: Portillo-Aceituno A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9477961 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The impact of digital physical therapy during COVID-19 lockdown in children with developmental disorders: A qualitative study.

Portillo-Aceituno Alicia A Calderón-Bernal Andrea A Pérez-Corrales Jorge J Fernández-de-Las-Peñas César C Palacios-Ceña Domingo D Güeita-Rodríguez Javier J

Brazilian journal of physical therapy 20220916 5

<h4>Background</h4>Digital physical therapy was performed within early intervention sessions for children with developmental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no known qualitative study that addresses the perspectives of parents with digital practice for early intervention.<h4>Objective</h4>To describe the parents' experiences with digital physical therapy for early intervention in children during COVID-19 lockdown.<h4>Methods</h4>A qualitative phenomenological study. Purposive sa ...[more]

PMID: 36179573

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Project description:BackgroundIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK imposed a national lockdown prompting change to daily routines. Among behaviours impacted by the lockdown, diet and physical activity may be particularly important due to their association with mental health and physical health. The aim of this study was to explore people's experiences of how lockdown impacted their physical activity, dietary behaviours and mental health, with a view to informing public health promotion.MethodsThis phenomenological qualitative study used semi-structured telephone interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted, guided by the Framework Approach.ResultsForty participants (28 female) completed an interview (mean duration: 36 min) between May and July 2020. The overarching themes identified were (i) Disruption (loss of routines, social interaction and cues to physical activity) and (ii) Adaptation (structuring the day, accessing the outdoor environment, finding new ways for social support). The disruption to daily routines altered people's cues for physical activity and eating; some participants spoke of comfort eating and increased alcohol intake in the early days of lockdown, and how they consciously tried to change these when restrictions lasted longer than first anticipated. Others spoke of adapting to the restrictions using food preparation and meals to provide both routine and social time for families. Disruptions from the closure of workplaces resulted in flexible working times for some, allowing for physical activity to be built into the day. In later stages of restrictions, physical activity became an opportunity for social interaction and several participants reported intending to continue to replace sedentary means of socialising (e.g., meeting in cafes) with more active, outdoor activities (e.g., walking) once restrictions were lifted. Staying active and building activity into the day was seen as important to support physical and mental health during the challenging times of the pandemic.ConclusionsWhilst many participants found the UK lockdown challenging, adaptations to cope with the restrictions presented some positive changes related to physical activity and diet behaviours. Helping people sustain their new healthier activities since restrictions have lifted is a challenge but presents an opportunity for public health promotion.

Project description:It is well known that physical inactivity increases the risk of global death; however, the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown strategy on physical activity (PA) remains unclear. This study compared PA-i.e., daily occupation, transportation to and from daily occupation, leisure time activities, and regular sporting activities-prior (PRE) and during (POST) the on-going COVID-19 outbreak in the Greece lockdown environment. A Greek version of the web-based Active-Q questionnaire was used to access PA. The questionnaire was filled out twice (once each for the PRE and POST conditions) by 8495 participants (age = 37.2 ± 0.2 years (95% confidence interval (CI), 36.9-37.5); males = 38.3% (95%CI, 36.7-40.0); females = 61.7% (95%CI, 60.4-63.0). The relative frequency of overall sporting activities, which, prior to lockdown, occurred at least once per month, and overall participation in competitive sports was significantly reduced (8.6% (95%CI, 7.9-9.3) and 84.7% (95%CI, 82.9-86.6) respectively). With the exception of overall leisure time activities, which were significantly increased in the POST condition, daily occupational, transportation, and sporting activities significant reduced (p < 0.05). Overall PA was reduced in all genders, age, body mass index (BMI) and PA level subgroups in the POST condition, and an interaction between the males and High PA subgroups was observed. The change in overall PA (from PRE to POST conditions) was -16.3% (95%CI, -17.3 to -15.4), while in daily occupational, transportation, and sporting activities, it was -52.9% (95%CI, -54.8-51.0), -41.1% (95%CI, -42.8-39.5) and -23.9% (95%CI, -25.1-22.8), respectively. Thus, the lockdown period is highly associated with a negative change in overall PA. During lockdown, inactivity increased dramatically, with males and the high PA population affected significantly more. The decline in PA is a great concern due to possible long-term consequences on public health and healthcare system.

Dataset Information

The impact of digital physical therapy during COVID-19 lockdown in children with developmental disorders: A qualitative study.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The impact of digital physical therapy during COVID-19 lockdown in children with developmental disorders: A qualitative study.

Similar Datasets

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