Parents' Satisfaction Regarding Occupational Therapy Services for their Children with Disabilities in Bangladesh—A Quantitative Study.

Abstract

Background: Occupational therapy helps individuals, including children with disabilities, engage in meaningful activities. While well-established in developed countries, its availability and impact in developing countries like Bangladesh remain underexplored, with parental satisfaction being key to evaluating service quality. Aim: This study aimed to assess parental satisfaction with OT services for children with disabilities in Bangladesh, focusing on care quality, communication, and accessibility. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 77 parents of children with disabilities receiving OT services. Data were gathered using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 (PSQ-18) with convenience sampling used. Results: The study showed high parental satisfaction in communication(97.4%), technical quality(94.8%), and interpersonal manner(94.8%) domains. However, financial aspects(66.2%) and accessibility and convenience(59.7%) domains were lower, reflecting challenges like high costs and limited rural services. Most respondents were mothers, and Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) was the most common condition and overall satisfaction level was higher in (79.2%) cases. The study also found some significant association between the 7 domains of PSQ-18 and the socio demographic variables of the participants. Conclusion: Parental satisfaction with OT services in Bangladesh was positive, but financial and geographic barriers impacted accessibility. The study calls for reforms to improve inclusivity and address socio-economic disparities. Keywords: occupational therapy, parental satisfaction, children with disabilities, Bangladesh, healthcare accessibility, patient satisfaction, socio-economic barriers, communication, technical quality.