Therapists' perceptions and attitudes in facial palsy rehabilitation therapy: A mixed methods study

Background: Facial palsy rehabilitation therapy plays an essential role in treating facial palsy. Purpose: This study aimed to gain insight into therapists' perceptions and attitudes toward facial palsy rehabilitation therapy and to examine whether therapists could be categorized into distinct groups based on these attitudes and perceptions. Methods: Thirteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted in a purposive sample of therapists. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Next, a questionnaire containing questions about therapists' characteristics and perceptions and attitudes toward facial palsy rehabilitation therapy was sent to all facial palsy rehabilitation therapists in the Netherlands and Flanders (n = 292). Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify and analyze distinct groups of therapists. Results: Seven themes were derived from the interviews: treatment goals, therapy content, indications, measurement instruments, factors influencing success, emotional support, and cooperation with colleagues. The questionnaire was filled out by 127 therapists. A 2-group structure consisting of a positive class and a negative class was found to fit the questionnaire data best. No distinction could be made regarding therapists' characteristics. Conclusion: Considerable variation in stated treatment practices was present among therapists. Therapists could be classified into 2 groups. This study raises several hypotheses that require further study