Date Completed
Spring 2026
Abstract
Abstract
Objective Caregivers of children with pediatric feeding disorders or difficulties face stressful emotions within the context of feeding. There is an identified gap in pediatric outpatient occupational therapy and the educational resources they provide to caregivers related to feeding. To address this, the capstone project aimed to develop and integrate an evidence-based caregiver education program into the capstone site’s feeding therapy model to make a more well-rounded and all-inclusive feeding therapy program. Methods Two caregiver surveys were sent out along with a staff survey to identify the needs of the site and the caregivers of the clients and to implement feedback into the materials created to keep them client and caregiver centered while also mirroring information that the staff at the site want caregivers to know. Results It was found that the educational materials created as deliverables helped caregivers better understand their child, provide caregivers with modifications and intervention ideas for home, and overall reduced staff documentation time which in turn benefits the clinic. Conclusion The capstone project highlights the importance of caregiver education in pediatrics through showing that education of caregivers helps increase the progress made for children and can help improve symptoms that caregivers face from the feeding challenges while also extending benefits to the clinic.
Document Type
Capstone
First Advisor
Allison Caplin
Second Advisor
Sarah Smith
Third Advisor
John Wilcox
College or School
CHHS
Department or Program
Occupational Therapy
Recommended Citation
Adams, Rachel, "Bridging Clinic to Home: The Development of a Caregiver Education Program to Support Home Carryover of Feeding Interventions" (2026). OTD Capstones. 7.
https://scholars.unh.edu/otd_capstones/7
Capstone Poster Presentation
Capsone Video Defense.mp4 (325097 kB)
Capstone Defense Video