Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Cunningham, BJ
Abstract
The Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS) is a parent-report participation-focused outcome measure that can be used with preschoolers with communication impairments. Speech-language pathologists suggest a digital solution as implementation barriers exist when accessing scores that are needed to understand outcomes and make clinical decisions. To date, caregivers’ perspectives have not been studied. Fifteen caregivers were engaged for 30-60 minutes in virtual focus groups and individual interviews to understand their experiences completing the FOCUS-34, perceptions of how a digital solution may be helpful, and recommendations to include. Four themes were identified using thematic analysis: caregivers’ current experiences and expectations for outcome measurement, the need for support to complete the FOCUS-34, belief a digital solution would improve service experience, and suggested features for a digital solution. These results provide insights into caregivers’ perspectives on outcome measurement and will inform efforts to improve the clinical utility of the FOCUS-34.
The Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS) is a parent-report participation-focused outcome measure that can be used with preschoolers with communication impairments. Speech-language pathologists suggest a digital solution as implementation barriers exist when accessing scores that are needed to understand outcomes and make clinical decisions. To date, caregivers’ perspectives have not been studied. Fifteen caregivers were engaged for 30-60 minutes in virtual focus groups and individual interviews to understand their experiences completing the FOCUS-34, perceptions of how a digital solution may be helpful, and recommendations to include. Four themes were identified using thematic analysis: caregivers’ current experiences and expectations for outcome measurement, the need for support to complete the FOCUS-34, belief a digital solution would improve service experience, and suggested features for a digital solution. These results provide insights into caregivers’ perspectives on outcome measurement and will inform efforts to improve the clinical utility of the FOCUS-34.
Summary for Lay Audience
The Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS-34) is a validated parent-report outcome measure that captures change in preschoolers’ communicative participation during speech-language therapies. Despite it being co-developed with end users and widely used in research, implementation has been difficult in clinical practice. Speech-language pathologists report the existing paper and fillable PDF formats as a key implementation barrier because they limit rapid access to test scores that are needed to understand children’s outcomes. To date, caregivers’ perspectives and needs related to the FOCUS-34 have not been studied. This project aimed to understand caregivers’ experiences completing the FOCUS-34 in its currently available formats, their perceptions of whether and how a digital solution may be helpful for families, and their preferred features and formats for a digital solution. Fifteen caregivers of preschoolers with communication impairments and experience completing the FOCUS-34 participated in virtual synchronous focus group sessions and individual interviews that were conducted using Zoom. Data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis, and four major themes were identified: (1) caregivers' current experiences with and expectations for outcome measurement, (2) caregivers need support to complete the FOCUS-34, (3) caregivers believe a digital solution would improve their service experience, and (4) caregivers' suggested features, formats, and considerations for a digital FOCUS-34. Overall, caregivers’ perspectives on outcome measurement will inform future efforts to improve the clinical utility of the FOCUS-34 and allow clinicians and caregivers to better interpret how vital early interventions impact children’s communicative health and development.
Recommended Citation
Kharbanda, Sachin Mr., "Incorporating Patient Perspectives in Speech-Language Pathology Research: Moving Towards Digital Outcome Measurement in Pediatrics" (2023). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 9390.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/9390
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.