Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid shift toward telehealth, significantly impacting pediatric occupational therapy (OT) service delivery. While telehealth introduced challenges, it also presented benefits, particularly for children and youth with disabilities who require continuous treatment.
Objectives: This study explores the perspectives of caregivers and pediatric occupational therapists (OTs) on the effectiveness, convenience, and challenges of telehealth-based OT services post-pandemic.
Methods: A descriptive survey design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from two participant groups: (1) caregivers of children with disabilities who received OT via telehealth and (2) pediatric OTs with at least one year of telehealth experience. Participants responded to multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions regarding their telehealth experiences.
Results: Findings from a small sample (OTs, n = 21; caregivers, n = 13) suggest that while in-person therapy remains the preferred mode of service, telehealth offers notable advantages, particularly in terms of accessibility and convenience. However, perspectives on caregiver involvement varied—caregivers often found it challenging, whereas OTs viewed it as beneficial to therapy outcomes.
Conclusion: These results indicate that hybrid models integrating both in-person and telehealth approaches could enhance service accessibility. Addressing caregiver training and technological barriers may improve telehealth’s effectiveness. Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols for pediatric OT telehealth services to ensure consistency and quality of care.