Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research Approach

This paper describes the development and implementation of a telehealth system in Pakistan to build capacity of healthcare service providers and caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. An asynchronous telehealth system, in the form of a web app, improved therapy-related communicatio...

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Main Authors: Rukaiya Yawar, Zaheeruddin Asif
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2022-12-01
Series:International Journal of Telerehabilitation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/Telerehab/article/view/6509
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author Rukaiya Yawar
Zaheeruddin Asif
author_facet Rukaiya Yawar
Zaheeruddin Asif
author_sort Rukaiya Yawar
collection DOAJ
description This paper describes the development and implementation of a telehealth system in Pakistan to build capacity of healthcare service providers and caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. An asynchronous telehealth system, in the form of a web app, improved therapy-related communication between the therapists and caregivers, thus enabling capacity building through sustained communication among the stakeholders. Participatory Action Research (PAR) identified barriers associated with communication, knowledge transfer, and caregiver learning. Data were collected via observations, interviews, focus groups, and field notes. The experiences of therapists and caregivers were analyzed to design and develop a system that works as a learning mechanism for caregivers in their native languages. The system also addresses socio-economic, geographic, and communication barriers as well as pandemic-imposed obstacles.
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spelling doaj.art-51366ea312764c44ad44d27f7c7dc83f2022-12-22T04:22:54ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghInternational Journal of Telerehabilitation1945-20202022-12-0114210.5195/ijt.2022.6509Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research ApproachRukaiya Yawar0Zaheeruddin Asif1Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, PakistanInstitute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan This paper describes the development and implementation of a telehealth system in Pakistan to build capacity of healthcare service providers and caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. An asynchronous telehealth system, in the form of a web app, improved therapy-related communication between the therapists and caregivers, thus enabling capacity building through sustained communication among the stakeholders. Participatory Action Research (PAR) identified barriers associated with communication, knowledge transfer, and caregiver learning. Data were collected via observations, interviews, focus groups, and field notes. The experiences of therapists and caregivers were analyzed to design and develop a system that works as a learning mechanism for caregivers in their native languages. The system also addresses socio-economic, geographic, and communication barriers as well as pandemic-imposed obstacles. http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/Telerehab/article/view/6509caregiverdevelopmental disabilitiesoccupational therapytelehealththerapeutic communication
spellingShingle Rukaiya Yawar
Zaheeruddin Asif
Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research Approach
International Journal of Telerehabilitation
caregiver
developmental disabilities
occupational therapy
telehealth
therapeutic communication
title Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research Approach
title_full Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research Approach
title_fullStr Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research Approach
title_full_unstemmed Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research Approach
title_short Capacity Building Using Digital Technology for Occupational Therapists and Caregivers in Pakistan: A Participatory Action Research Approach
title_sort capacity building using digital technology for occupational therapists and caregivers in pakistan a participatory action research approach
topic caregiver
developmental disabilities
occupational therapy
telehealth
therapeutic communication
url http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/Telerehab/article/view/6509
work_keys_str_mv AT rukaiyayawar capacitybuildingusingdigitaltechnologyforoccupationaltherapistsandcaregiversinpakistanaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach
AT zaheeruddinasif capacitybuildingusingdigitaltechnologyforoccupationaltherapistsandcaregiversinpakistanaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach