Abstract
Purpose
Digital health solutions to support parent-implemented interventions alongside direct
speech and language therapist (SLT) input could help increase intervention intensity
for children with speech sound disorder (SSD) to meet evidence-based recommendations. This realist review explores the factors which could make intensive
parent-implemented digital interventions for children with SSD effective, and how this
complex intervention might work in different contexts.
Methods
Realist review methodology was adopted to explore what works, why, how, for which
parents/carers, and in what circumstances. Realist methods aimed to understand the
active ingredients, contexts, and associated outcomes of this complex intervention.
Preliminary theories were developed to describe how and why digital parent implemented interventions work for children with SSD. Data was extracted from 38
papers to test and refine preliminary theories. Behaviour change theories were used to explain how the intervention works in practice.
Results
A set of 20 explanatory theories were developed to depict how and why digital parent implemented interventions work in different contexts. Theories covered five areas: intervention intensity; parent/carer-SLT partnership; parent-training; parent-child-SLT dynamic; child-participation. The theories describe mechanisms of the intervention and how these are responded to in different situations. Findings highlight the importance of intensive intervention for children with SSD.
Conclusions
This realist review adds new in-depth insight into how digital parent-implemented
interventions work, for whom, and why. This new understanding has potential to
support future successful digital parent-implemented interventions, and increase
intervention intensity for children with SSD globally. Implications for services and the
potential of emerging digital health approaches to promote parent-implemented
interventions are discussed.
Digital health solutions to support parent-implemented interventions alongside direct
speech and language therapist (SLT) input could help increase intervention intensity
for children with speech sound disorder (SSD) to meet evidence-based recommendations. This realist review explores the factors which could make intensive
parent-implemented digital interventions for children with SSD effective, and how this
complex intervention might work in different contexts.
Methods
Realist review methodology was adopted to explore what works, why, how, for which
parents/carers, and in what circumstances. Realist methods aimed to understand the
active ingredients, contexts, and associated outcomes of this complex intervention.
Preliminary theories were developed to describe how and why digital parent implemented interventions work for children with SSD. Data was extracted from 38
papers to test and refine preliminary theories. Behaviour change theories were used to explain how the intervention works in practice.
Results
A set of 20 explanatory theories were developed to depict how and why digital parent implemented interventions work in different contexts. Theories covered five areas: intervention intensity; parent/carer-SLT partnership; parent-training; parent-child-SLT dynamic; child-participation. The theories describe mechanisms of the intervention and how these are responded to in different situations. Findings highlight the importance of intensive intervention for children with SSD.
Conclusions
This realist review adds new in-depth insight into how digital parent-implemented
interventions work, for whom, and why. This new understanding has potential to
support future successful digital parent-implemented interventions, and increase
intervention intensity for children with SSD globally. Implications for services and the
potential of emerging digital health approaches to promote parent-implemented
interventions are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | PLoS ONE |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 27 Mar 2025 |
Bibliographical note
This review protocol has been completed as part of a PhD studentship at Ulster University (NL) which is supported by the Department for the Economy (DfE).Keywords
- Digital health
- Children
- speech sound disorder
- parent-implemented
- carer-implemented
- direct speech and language therapy
- intensive intervention
- realist review
- effective
- intervention
- intensity
- Stuttering
- Humans
- Language Therapy
- Speech Therapy
- Parents
- Speech Sound Disorder
- Language Development Disorders
- Review Literature as Topic
- Speech
- Apraxias
- Child
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Dive into the research topics of 'What works, how and in which contexts when using digital health to support parents/carers to implement intensive speech and language therapy at home for children with speech sound disorder? A realist review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Datasets
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Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations from a realist evaluation exploring digital interventions for children with speech sound disorder [dataset]
Leafe, N. (Creator), Pagnamenta, E. (Contributor), Taggart, L. (Contributor), Donnelly, M. (Contributor) & Titterington, J. (Contributor), Ulster University, 9 Aug 2025
DOI: 10.21251/5e96b5a3-005b-43d2-b39d-4a4bf8de8760
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