Parents’ perceived benefits, barriers, and facilitators of conventional physiotherapy for children with cerebral palsy: A qualitative study

This study aimed to explore parents' perceptions on the benefits, facilitators and barriers to conventional physiotherapy for children with cerebral palsy (CP). A qualitative, in-depth interview was conducted with 16 parents of children with CP through an online video conference. Semi-structured questions related to physical functions, social well-being, facilitators, and barriers to participation in conventional physiotherapy were recorded. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed thematically to generate significant themes. The majority of participants (94%) agreed that their children had shown improvements in physical strength and function. Ten participants reported that their children are expressive and responsive when communicating with other people following physiotherapy. Six themes emerged during the analysis: physical function progression, social well-being progression, child's internal barriers, external barriers, enhancing engagement and support in physiotherapy, and expectations for self-independence. The study identified 6 core dimensions influencing the perceived benefits, barriers, and facilitators of conventional physiotherapy for parents of children with CP. The findings highlighted a need for physiotherapists to refine treatment strategies, emphasizing individualized care tailored to each child's unique needs.