Interprofessional collaboration in the care of children with multiple disabilities: a cross-sectional survey of rehabilitation clinicians

Purpose: Children with multiple disabilities (CMD) present complex, overlapping needs that place exceptional demands on interprofessional rehabilitation systems. Although interprofessional collaboration is widely endorsed, its implementation remains inconsistent, with particular challenges in the integration of audiology services. This study explored clinicians' perceptions, behaviors, and barriers toward multidisciplinary practice (MDP), with a focus on differences between professional groups. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to licensed physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists practicing in pediatric rehabilitation services in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed demographics, role familiarity, MDP implementation, perceived benefits and barriers, and training needs. Descriptive statistics were generated, and chi-square tests were used to examine associations between profession and key variables. Results: A total of 284 professionals participated. Significant differences were observed between professions in role familiarity, with audiologists reporting the lowest levels. While most respondents reported engaging in collaboration, audiologists were the least likely to participate in multidisciplinary teams. Key barriers included limited awareness of professional roles, staff shortages, and inadequate training, with variation across disciplines. Conclusion: Interprofessional collaboration is valued but inconsistently implemented in pediatric rehabilitation for CMD, with notable disparities in the integration of different professions, particularly audiology. Strengthening practice requires clarifying professional roles, providing structured interprofessional training, and fostering supportive organizational cultures. These findings underscore the need for systemic interventions to enable truly comprehensive and integrated care for children with multiple disabilities.