Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Performance Coaching for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes from a Single-Case Pilot Study
5 affiliations
- 1Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- 2Department of Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- 3Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- 4Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- 5Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Objectives:: Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) frequently encounter motor limitations that restrict access to in-person rehabilitation services. This study examined the feasibility and preliminary consequences of Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Performance Coaching (Tele-OPC) in improving occupational performance, functional mobility, and parental anxiety.
Materials & Methods:: A single-case experimental design was employed, involving five children (aged 3–6 years; GMFCS levels II–III) and their parents in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Tehran, Iran. Participants underwent a 12-week intervention consisting of weekly Tele-OPC sessions conducted via Google Meet. Outcomes were assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at baseline, intervention, and follow-up. Fidelity was monitored using the Occupational Performance Coaching-Fidelity Measure (OPC-FM). Data were analyzed using visual trend analysis and Cohen’s d effect sizes.
Results:: OPC-FM scores increased from 46.59 at session one to 69.23 at session twelve. All five participants achieved large improvements in occupational performance and satisfaction on the COPM, as well as in functional mobility on the GMFM-88, with effect sizes exceeding 2.67.
Four parents demonstrated a significant effect size in their anxiety levels, and one had a moderate improvement, with Cohen’s d ranging from 0.87 up to 2.67. When you look at the graphs, the baseline levels stayed steady, and improvements stuck around even later. The PND analysis had mostly perfect non-overlap between different phases—almost 100%—except for one area (COPM satisfaction), where it was 67%.
Conclusion:: Tele-OPC appears feasible and may improve occupational performance, mobility, and parental anxiety. More extensive studies with extended follow-up are recommended.
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BibTeX
@article{morovati2026telehealthdelivered,
title = {{Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Performance Coaching for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes from a Single-Case Pilot Study}},
author = {Zahra Morovati and Saeid Fatorehchy and Ebrahim Pishyareh and Seyed Ali Hosseini and Farin Soleimani and Mina Ahmadi Kahjoogh and Akbar Biglarian},
journal = {Iranian Journal of Child Neurology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.22037/ijcn.v20i4.52644},
url = {https://doi.org/10.22037/ijcn.v20i4.52644},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Performance Coaching for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes from a Single-Case Pilot Study
AU - Zahra Morovati
AU - Saeid Fatorehchy
AU - Ebrahim Pishyareh
AU - Seyed Ali Hosseini
AU - Farin Soleimani
AU - Mina Ahmadi Kahjoogh
AU - Akbar Biglarian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Iranian Journal of Child Neurology
DO - 10.22037/ijcn.v20i4.52644
UR - https://doi.org/10.22037/ijcn.v20i4.52644
AB - Objectives:: Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) frequently encounter motor limitations that restrict access to in-person rehabilitation services. This study examined the feasibility and preliminary consequences of Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Performance Coaching (Tele-OPC) in improving occupational performance, functional mobility, and parental anxiety. Materials & Methods:: A single-case experimental design was employed, involving five children (aged 3–6 years; GMFCS levels II–III) and their parents in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Tehran, Iran. Participants underwent a 12-week intervention consisting of weekly Tele-OPC sessions conducted via Google Meet. Outcomes were assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at baseline, intervention, and follow-up. Fidelity was monitored using the Occupational Performance Coaching-Fidelity Measure (OPC-FM). Data were analyzed using visual trend analysis and Cohen’s d effect sizes. Results:: OPC-FM scores increased from 46.59 at session one to 69.23 at session twelve. All five participants achieved large improvements in occupational performance and satisfaction on the COPM, as well as in functional mobility on the GMFM-88, with effect sizes exceeding 2.67. Four parents demonstrated a significant effect size in their anxiety levels, and one had a moderate improvement, with Cohen’s d ranging from 0.87 up to 2.67. When you look at the graphs, the baseline levels stayed steady, and improvements stuck around even later. The PND analysis had mostly perfect non-overlap between different phases—almost 100%—except for one area (COPM satisfaction), where it was 67%. Conclusion:: Tele-OPC appears feasible and may improve occupational performance, mobility, and parental anxiety. More extensive studies with extended follow-up are recommended.
SN - 1735-4668
SN - 2008-0700
ER -