Testing the ENGAGE Child-Focused Goal-Setting Method in Pediatric Rehabilitation for Children Ages 5 to 12 with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a child-focused goal-setting approach called Enhancing Child Engagement in Goal Setting ENGAGE on therapy outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities aged 5 to 12 years. This pragmatic trial compares ENGAGE with usual therapy practice across six pediatric rehabilitation sites. The study aims to understand how ENGAGE influences goal performance, satisfaction, functional abilities, participation, and quality of life for children and their caregivers, while also considering cost-effectiveness and service use. Therapists at participating sites are randomly assigned to either the ENGAGE intervention group, where they receive training on goal-setting strategies and tools like the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure COPM, or to a control group that provides usual care. Children receive therapy based on their therapists group allocation. Treatment length varies from 3 to 8 sessions over 2 to 8 weeks. Therapists document treatment details and goal-related feedback during sessions to monitor adherence and compare practices between groups. Participants undergo assessments at baseline before treatment, immediately post-treatment within 10 days, and three months after treatment ends. These include measures of goal performance and satisfaction, child engagement, confidence, participation, functional abilities, and quality of life. An economic analysis evaluates costs from family and service perspectives. Interviews with parents, children, and therapists explore factors affecting ENGAGE implementation and sustainability. The total participation duration varies according to therapy schedules and follow-up assessments.

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Child-oriented Goal-setting in Paediatric Rehabilitation (the ENGAGE Approach)