Peer-reviewed article

Caregiver-delivered telehealth community-based rehabilitation in Jordan: a pilot quasi-experimental study of service feasibility and functional outcomes.

Young M, AlHeresh R, Abu-Dahab S, Ko J, Vo T et al. · 21 Apr 2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children with disabilities aged 0–18 years living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face limited access to rehabilitation services, contributing to reduced functional performance and participation. Telehealth-delivered, caregiver-mediated community-based rehabilitation (CBR) may offer a scalable approach to address these gaps in care. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a telehealth-based CBR program and to explore caregiver satisfaction in Jordan. METHODS: This pilot quasi-experimental study used a pre–post design without a control group. Eleven caregivers of children with developmental and/or physical disabilities participated in a three-session telehealth intervention over approximately three weeks. The intervention included goal setting, caregiver education, and a follow-up booster session. Functional performance was measured using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). Caregiver satisfaction was assessed using a structured survey. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data, paired-sample t-tests to evaluate pre-post changes, and open-ended responses were analysed using descriptive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Eleven caregivers completed the intervention. Improvements in individualised functional performance goals were observed across multiple domains, particularly in school readiness, cognition, and emotional regulation (mean GAS T-score change = 17, p < .001). Caregivers reported high levels of satisfaction with the program, with 100% indicating that the intervention was helpful. Telehealth delivery was feasible and acceptable, although some challenges related to technology use were reported by the participants. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated that caregiver-delivered telehealth CBR is a feasible approach that may improve functional performance among children with disabilities in LMIC settings. The findings should be interpreted as preliminary and warrant further investigation in larger, controlled studies to evaluate their effectiveness, scalability, and long-term outcomes.