Introducing telehealth in children's therapy services v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Introducing telehealth in children’s therapy services: learning from Covid-19 innovations to inform future practice
IRAS ID
286203
Contact name
S Armitage
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 15 days
Research summary
Introducing telehealth in children’s therapy services: learning from Covid-19 to inform future practice
Web-based information and communication technology, for example WhatsApp and Skype, has been used by children’s occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists to continue to provide care during COVID-19. This is called telehealth. There is currently limited evidence about telehealth in children’s therapy services to guide clinical practice and service re-design.
To generate evidence, this study will:
1) describe the use of telehealth in children’s therapy services (with whom, for what ends, and in what situations)
2) identify the consequences of telehealth on therapy services, children and parents
3) map the role of telehealth in children’s therapy (rationale, process, expected outcomes by families, therapists and service managers).A two-part qualitative study will be conducted over 7 months:
Part 1): a) therapists (n=3), service managers (n=1-3), children aged 0-16 years with neurodisability and receiving therapy, and the children's parent (n=3) will be sampled from three NHS Trusts. Online individual interviews will collect data on participants’ experiences of telehealth and consequences to its use. Samples of telehealth therapy interventions (e.g. videos) will be collected. Data will be analysed using framework analysis; b) scoping review of the telehealth literature.Part 2) an online Community of Practice with children’s therapists and therapy service managers (n=3-8). Online meetings (n=2-3) will collect data on the wider role of telehealth in children’s therapy services. Data will be analysed using thematic analysis. The Community will feedback and comment on practice guidelines, materials, and recommendations as they develop from interview data (part 1 above) and group meetings.
The outputs of the study will be a full report about the drivers, facilitators, barriers and expected outcomes to telehealth. The report will include recommendations for practice and research.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0483
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion