Family quality of life in early intervention: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Family Quality of Life (FQOL) in Early Intervention (EI) has become a key factor for the evaluation of its results, since, in early ages, the family plays a fundamental role. The main objective of this review was to examine the scientific evidence on FQOL of families with children who attend EI services. Methods This systematic review was conducted in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL databases. Two meta-analyses were carried out using Cronbach's α of the measurement instruments and the means and standard deviations of FQOL. Results The search produced 7,249 records, of which 10 were included. The statistical result of Cronbach's α was high, and that of FQOL was medium-high. Conclusions Families participating in EI programs tend to report medium-to-high levels of FQOL. The factors that contribute to improving FQOL include: the supports provided by the professional, identification of strengths, satisfaction with the service, and transdisciplinary interventions focused on the family.