Bridging the Gap: A Novel Approach to Pediatric Rehabilitation Training in Low Resource Settings

Purpose: Approximately 250 million children younger than 5 years in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential, often without access to rehabilitation. A training program was developed to provide physical therapists in Myanmar with the knowledge and skills to deliver family-centered early rehabilitation. Methods: Participants completed online coursework, discussions, synchronous mentoring sessions, and onsite training for 7 weeks. To assess the effectiveness of the training, participants completed surveys on their self-perception of knowledge and skills related to early rehabilitation at 4 intervals. Focus group interviews were also conducted to allow the participants to discuss their experiences. Results: There were significant improvements in knowledge and discussed implementation of the new skills in practice with a focus on family education and innovative use of home materials. Conclusion: The training program effectively enhanced participants' confidence in their ability to implement family-centered interventions using available resources.