Mapping Physical Therapy Goals to SMART and F-words Frameworks: Insights from Pediatric Neuromotor Rehabilitation in Qatar

Background Goal setting is central to pediatric physical therapy and guides therapeutic planning and outcomes. For children with neuromotor disabilities, goals must be both technically sound and meaningful. The SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) enhances clarity, while the F-words framework (Function, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends, Future) emphasizes family-centered priorities. Evidence on goal analysis of children with neuromotor disabilities from Qatar remains limited. Objective To evaluate the quality and meaningfulness of physical therapy goals for children with neuromotor disabilities using SMART elements and the F-words framework. Methods A retrospective review of electronic medical records (January–December 2019) was conducted at a tertiary pediatric physical therapy outpatient facility in Qatar. A purposive sample of 100 children (12 months–14 years) with neuromotor conditions, predominantly cerebral palsy and developmental delay, yielded 183 goals from 92 children for analysis. Each goal was appropriately mapped to SMART and F-words domains based on the defined criteria. Results The majority of goals met the specific, measurable, and achievable criteria (178; 97.2%), with nearly all being time-bound (181; 98.9%) and just over half classified as relevant (97; 53%). Across the F-words, goals most frequently aligned with Function (157; 85.8%), with fewer under Family (55; 30.1%), Fun (44; 24%), Fitness (28; 15.3%), Friends (21; 11.5%), and Future (15; 8.2%). Conclusion The physical therapy goals of children with neuromotor disabilities demonstrated strong structure, with significant adherence to SMART elements except relevance. Most F-word domains were underrepresented, except for function. Consequently, families must actively participate in goal setting to ensure all goals are relevant to them. Furthermore, therapists should be encouraged to incorporate all F-word domains to develop meaningful goals for families.