Implementation and impact: integrating a parenting intervention into routine care for children with early neurological conditions.

Authors

Rivka R Green, Marin M Taylor, Chantal C Cheung, Bianca C Bondi, Melanie Barwick, Shari L Wade, Tricia S Williams

Published in

Pediatric research. Jun 27, 2026. Epub Jun 27, 2026.

Abstract

Children with neurological/neurodevelopmental conditions experience behavioral regulation challenges, yet few receive support in hospitals. Interact-North is a tele-health intervention providing individualized behavioral coaching and neurological and health-related psychoeducation to parents of children with neurological/neurodevelopmental conditions. This study assessed its implementation in a pediatric tertiary hospital. Objectives included: (1) assess organizational readiness, (2) co-design service pathways, and (3) evaluate implementation outcomes and sustainability.
Guided by The Implementation Roadmap, we evaluated Interact-North's implementation across three hospital divisions. A mixed-methods design was used to assess organizational readiness, co-develop clinical service pathways, and evaluate outcomes through surveys, program administrative metrics, field notes, and semi-structured interviews.
Clinicians reported high organizational readiness, strong perceived fit, and high program acceptability. Clinical service pathways were co-developed iteratively over a 6-month period during which 167 families were referred, 108 enrolled, and 75 completed. Fidelity was high (90%), as was perceived effectiveness noted by improvements in behavioral concerns. Key implementation facilitators included program adaptability, alignment with clinical needs, and enhanced continuity of care. Sustainability ratings were high across domains, except for funding stability.
The implementation of Interact-North represents a scalable model to address the gap in psychosocial support for families, but funding remains a barrier.
Early behavior and emotional regulation challenges impact up to 40% of young children followed in early neurological and neurodevelopmental hospital clinics, yet there are limited embedded interventions. This study demonstrates that an evidence-based family-centered tele-health behavioral and psychosocial intervention can be successfully implemented within pediatric specialty hospital divisions. Results support strong clinician engagement, program fidelity, and meaningful acceptability and effectiveness outcomes for families. Findings provide a scalable model for implementing early behavioral interventions for children with early neurological/neurodevelopmental conditions seen in the hospital.

PMID:
42365167
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Jun 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.