Parental Adherence to Cranial Remolding Orthotic Treatment of Infants with Positional Cranial Deformities: A Qualitative Content Analysis

This qualitative study was designed to investigate parental adherence to cranial remolding orthotic (CRO) treatment of infants with positional cranial deformities.

A qualitative content analysis was employed in this study. Researchers sought to find parental behavior while using a CRO for their infant with cranial deformity. Through in-depth and in-person interviews, researchers collected data from 22 participants using semi-structured questions regarding adherence to CRO treatment. Data were examined for patterns until saturation occurred, yielding categories that focused on the parents’ main barriers and facilitators.

Two general themes of “potential barriers to CRO treatment adherence” and “potential facilitators to CRO treatment adherence” were extracted from 12 subthemes of parental burden, transportation, availability of CRO services in hometown, financial responsibility, maternal/paternal attachment attitudes, CRO-related problems, others feedback, adjustment to the treatment, motivation and self-confidence, aesthetic satisfaction, communication with orthotist, and wife's empathy/spousal support.

Getting time off work, transportation to the orthotics’ clinic, the lack of medical insurance coverage for CRO, reduced physical contact between parents and their child, and getting negative feedback from others were the most reported challenges. However, overcoming the initial difficulties and adjustment to the treatment with CRO, the high motivation of parents during therapy, an orthosis with good fitting and minor complications, a strong relationship between the parents and orthotist, and the father's companionship were revealed to facilitate the treatment process and increase adherence of treatment with CRO.