Date of Award

12-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Policy and Management

First Advisor

Dr.Zehra Habib

Second Advisor

Dr.Muhammad Asim

Third Advisor

Dr.Zahra Hoodbhoy

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Background:Globally, 85 % children with disability reside in low to middle income countries (LMICs) and less than 5 % have access to basic rehabilitative support services. Children with disabilities face barriers to access rehabilitation in LMICs including inadequately trained health care professionals to provide appropriate services to such children in addition to social stigma. There are 295,093 children with physical disabilities in Pakistan. An urgent need exists to build capacity in skilled pediatric rehabilitation by creating a network of pediatric physical therapists with advanced skills to serve children with disabilities and their families. To address the above issue, a novel pediatric physical therapy training and residency program was initiated at AKUH as part of a quality assurance drive which was mandated by the service line chief in 2017. This then blossomed into a formal program which is currently being recognized by the World Congress of Physiotherapy (WCPT).
Study Objective:To understand the experiences of the residents and parents regarding the residency program, particularly regarding the Parent empowerment program.
Methods:Descriptive Exploratory study design was used to explore the perceptions of the residents and parents. Non probability sampling technique was employed. For data collection, In-depth Interview (ID) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were used. Time duration of the study was 3 months. Data was transcribed and manually analyzed by the primary researcher.
Results:Findings revealed five major themes: Professional development, enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving, networking among other health care professionals, advanced pediatric rehabilitation care and specialized training in pediatric rehabilitation.
Conclusion:The PPTTRP at AKUH significantly improved the competencies of the physical therapists who underwent the one-year intensive training in accordance with the American Board of Physical 910 Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). The program further emphasizes culturally sensitive and evidence-based care for pediatric patients in low resource settings and therefore introduced contextual modification, which align with the WHO Rehabilitation initiative 2030. The program serves as a model for establishing a separate residency program in Pakistan and it is the first of its kind in the region. It aims to ultimately strengthen the rehabilitation workforce and improve service delivery for Pakistani children with disabilities.

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