Pediatric rehabilitation intervention measure of engagement—parent version (PRIME P): cross-cultural translation into Italian and validation

Parent engagement (PE) is crucial to achieving positive outcomes in pediatric rehabilitation. Measuring its characteristics may help healthcare professionals enhance PE. This study aims to translate into Italian and to validate the PRIME P scale, a tool useful for measuring PE in pediatric rehabilitation.
The cross-cultural translation followed recent guidelines. Caregivers (n = 124) were recruited from two Italian pediatric rehabilitation services. Participants completed the scale twice within 15 days. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity (via exploratory factor analysis) were analyzed. Associations between participants’ characteristics and scale scores were also investigated.
The IT-PRIME P exploratory factor analysis identified a two-dimensional structure: “Predisposition to treatment” and “Collaboration”. The IT-PRIME P showed adequate internal consistency (Dimension 1: α = 0.87 - Dimension 2: α = 0.80) and good test-retest reliability (Dimension 1: ICC = 0.711; Dimension 2: ICC = 0.845). Correlations and regression analyses identified associations between the “Collaboration” dimension and the variables “child’s age” and “type of therapy” (p < 0.05) and “parent’s presence” (p < 0.05; β = 1.21; 95% CI = 0.04–2.38).
The PRIME-P IT demonstrates adequate psychometric properties, consistent with those of the original PRIME-P scale. These findings support its use for assessing PE in pediatric rehabilitation settings.

Measuring parent engagement helps the therapist identify areas that need support, encourages greater collaboration during therapy activities and enhances goal sharing to foster hope for positive outcomes.
The PRIME P is a reliable and valid tool to measure parent engagement and it has been translated into Italian (IT-PRIME P).
The IT-PRIME P showed satisfactory psychometric properties and results can be considered consistent with those of the original PRIME-P scale.
The IT-PRIME P should be used to promote dialogue between the caregiver and therapist to improve participation as well as to facilitate discussion between team members, thereby emphasizing parent engagement’s essential role in the rehabilitation process.

Measuring parent engagement helps the therapist identify areas that need support, encourages greater collaboration during therapy activities and enhances goal sharing to foster hope for positive outcomes.
The PRIME P is a reliable and valid tool to measure parent engagement and it has been translated into Italian (IT-PRIME P).
The IT-PRIME P showed satisfactory psychometric properties and results can be considered consistent with those of the original PRIME-P scale.
The IT-PRIME P should be used to promote dialogue between the caregiver and therapist to improve participation as well as to facilitate discussion between team members, thereby emphasizing parent engagement’s essential role in the rehabilitation process.