Objective: This study is aimed to study perspectives of stakeholders to a family-based guidance for caring preschool autistic childrenby applying the multisensory approach.
Method: Target population comprised five groups of stakeholder for caring preschool autistic children, including eight families of preschool autistic children who received treatment at Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development (RICD), one director of RICD, two child and adolescent psychiatrists, one Public Health Region officer, and one occupational therapist. This study consisted of two phases. The first phase explored perspectives of related services by in-depth interview with 5 experts. The second phase was a focus group discussion with eight caregivers of preschool autistic children regarding the experiences of stimulation child development and the problem. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were transcribed verbatim, and the transcripts were coded and analyzed using content analysis method.
Results: Four emerged themes of perspectives included supporting comprehensive service system, empowerment to the caregivers to integrate their life style and their background, to the experience of developmental stimulation, and their role of caregivers under developmental stimulation autistic children.
Conclusion: The multisensory approach for parents and caregivers of preschool autistic children provided an understanding of parents and caregivers regarding the child development and surrounding or occupational adjustment for autistic children.
Suggestions: Further study might consider the cost-effectiveness and efficiency the program for parents and caregivers of preschool autistic children in clinical settings.