Tele-coaching for caregivers of young children with motor delays in rural communities
Funded at Ohio University Athens · NIH-11353474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small study will test a telehealth program that coaches caregivers to guide their 0–3 year old child’s physical therapy at home, helping kids in rural areas get earlier support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio University Athens NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | June 9, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $424,952 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD122149-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants and toddlers (0–3 years) in rural areas who have or are at risk for motor delays and have caregivers willing to participate in tele-coaching.
✕Less likely to help
Children in urban settings with readily available in-person therapy or those not requiring motor delay interventions may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will enroll 45 children aged 0–3 years in rural Ohio and Montana and randomly assign them to immediate tele-coaching with home-based exercises or a waitlist. Caregivers will participate in twice-weekly telehealth PT sessions plus a structured home program for 8 weeks. The study will measure changes in the child’s motor function and caregiver confidence, with follow-up at 1 month post-intervention and caregiver feedback collected through surveys and focus groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce wait times and extend access to early motor intervention for children in underserved rural communities.
How similar studies have gone: Similar tele-rehabilitation approaches have shown promise in improving access and caregiver involvement, but this study tests a caregiver-delivered model in rural settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio University Athens
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bican, Rachel L. — Ohio University Athens
- Study coordinator: Bican, Rachel L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social media support for Alzheimer's caregivers powered by AI chat help
A caregiver-focused program for families of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias uses an AI-enhanced social media approach to provide daily supportive messages and online discussions.
-
Personalized mental health toolkit for teachers and caregivers in Uganda
A new mobile app helps teachers and parents in Uganda manage stress and mental health more easily using personalized tips and local resources.
-
Mobile app to help family caregivers in Thailand manage distress
A mobile app called CAMMA would help family members caring for adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand feel less depressed and anxious through a culturally tailored mental health support program.
-
Adaptation of PATH-Pain for Dementia Family Caregivers Living with Persistent Pain and Negative Emotions
Aimed at helping dementia family caregivers who live with ongoing pain and negative feelings by adapting a pain-management program to fit their caregiving needs.
-
Improving Child Neurodevelopment through Gut Health and Caregiver Support in Guatemala
A study in Guatemala tests a nutrition and caregiver-training approach to support development in young children who are at risk for malnutrition and poor neurodevelopment.
-
Maximizing Home Health Aide Support for Veterans and their Caregivers
A VA-focused project to improve access and stability of home health aide services for older veterans and reduce caregiver burden.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.