Development and Evaluation of a Mutual Support Program for Parents of Children with Developmental Disorders in Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to develop an interaction program for mutual support exchange for the parents of children with developmental disorders, identify the most urgent issues in the program, and the potential difficulties of implementation by the qualitative method. In Study 1, practical activities were reviewed from the perspective of process evaluation for staff meetings and participant questionnaires. Program structure and intention were presented, and the innovations in program structure were described. Practical activities were discussed from the following perspectives: (1) type and content of activities; (2) duration and frequency of program implementation; (3) number and characteristics of users, characteristics of program implementers, and information on program provision methods: (i) implementation arrangements, (ii) degree of service, (iii) problems and negative effects of implementation, (iv) matching between planning and implementation, (v) stability, and (vi) utilization. In Study 2, we conducted a categorical analysis of participant questionnaires (n=157), specifically descriptive data on parents' program experiences. The effects of the program were described in three major categories: “Experiences through opportunities for reflection,” “Experiences through interaction with other parents,” and “Increased motivation.” Moreover, the contents of the program and the characteristics of the structure that produced the effects were studied. The relationship between the categories also showed the mechanism of the program's effectiveness, in which opportunities for reflection and mutual interaction among parents lead to increased motivation. In the future, it is important to examine the detailed mechanisms of the program and it is expected that further effective activities will be developed and evaluated with studies in more countries and regions.