Impact of an education program on parental knowledge of specific learning disability.

BACKGROUND

A supportive home environment is one of the factors that can favorably determine the outcome of specific learning disability (SpLD) in a school-going child. However, there is no reliable information available on parental knowledge about SpLD.

AIMS: To investigate parental knowledge of SpLD and to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on it.

SETTINGS AND

DESIGN

Prospective questionnaire-based study conducted in our clinic.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

From April to November 2002, 50 parents who were conversant in English and willing to follow up were interviewed. After the interview, each parent was administered a structured educational program and re-interviewed after 3 months.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The pre- and post-intervention responses were compared using Chi-square test.

RESULTS

After the intervention, there was significant improvement in parental knowledge of (i) the meaning of the term 'SpLD' (32/50 vs. 50/50, P

CONCLUSION

Parental knowledge of their child's SpLD is inadequate and this can be significantly improved by a single-session educational program.