Efficacy of Educational Training on Performance of Caregivers of Children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS), known as Trisomy 21, is the most common chromosomal abnormality among live born infants and is associated with hypotonic and delayed motor development. The study aimed to identify the effect of educational training on performance of caregivers of children with Down syndrome. The study design was a quasi- experimental on a sample of 30 caregivers of Down syndrome children. Two tools were used for collecting data in the study; the first tool was structured interview questionnairefor caregivers such as demographical data, clinical data, caregivers ’knowledge of Down syndrome and therapeutic massage. The second tool was a structured clinical checklist to evaluate caregivers ’practice regarding therapeutic massage.The results revealed statistically significant improvement in performance of the studied caregivers regarding Down syndrome and therapeutic massage. Therefore, it could be concluded that educational training program to caregivers of Down syndrome children had improved their knowledge and practice regarding Down syndrome and therapeutic massage. Based on the results, it could be recommendedthat Continuous educational training programs should be developed and implemented for nurses and caregivers of Down syndrome children about Down syndrome and therapeutic massage.