Strategies to promote parental involvement in neuropediatric physiotherapy: an interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

There is ample scientific evidence indicating that the participation of family members in interventions conducted with children is of critical importance. However, little information about the effectiveness of different strategies to increase parental involvement is available in the Brazilian research literature in Physiotherapy, even though family involvement is also of crucial importance in the treatment of children with neurological problems.  In this paper, we identify ways of involving parents that are reported in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Music Education and Psychology (social skills training). Possibilities for adapting these strategies for use in Physiotherapy settings are discussed, so that professionals and managers of institutions that offer rehabilitation services could broaden their use of mechanisms to promote family participation, maximizing the results of rehabilitation treatment for children. In future studies, it will be important to evaluate the viability and effectiveness of adopting these strategies in Physiotherapy settings.