Search results for ‘Subject term:"cerebral palsy"’ Sort:
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Short-term changes in parents' resolution regarding their young child's diagnosis of cerebral palsy
- Authors:
- RENTINCK I. C. M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 36(5), September 2010, pp.703-708.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Many parents go through a process of grieving and adaptation after receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for their child. Resolution is characterised by elements reflecting integration of the experience of the diagnosis into parents’ representation, which allows for a reorientation and refocus of attention on present reality. This study aimed to describe changes in the course of resolution of parents of young children with cerebral palsy over a period of 1 year starting at 18 months of age. In this longitudinal study, 38 parents of children with cerebral palsy were followed with the Reaction to Diagnosis Interview, assessing their personal reactions to their child's diagnosis (i.e. resolution status). The results showed that 29 parents (76%) were found to be stable with respect to their main resolution status (i.e. ‘resolved’ or ‘unresolved’), while 24% of the parents either had changed from ‘unresolved’ to ‘resolved’ or in the opposite way. Furthermore, of the 28 parents who were classified as ‘resolved’ at both times, 15 (54%) had changed at subclassification level with respect to the specific strategies used. The article concludes that resolution at a main level of parental reactions to their child's diagnosis was predominantly stable. Most parents were classified as ‘resolved’ at both baseline and follow-up assessment. However, more detailed analyses at subclassification level showed that most parents with a ‘resolved’ main status showed changing patterns of resolution strategies to their child's diagnosis, suggesting that resolution is an ongoing process.
Parents of children with cerebral palsy: a review of factors related to the process of adaptation
- Authors:
- RENTINCK I. C. M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(2), March 2007, pp.161-169.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Little is known about the way parents adapt to the situation when their child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. A literature search was performed to gain a deeper insight in the process of adaptation of parents with a child with cerebral palsy and on factors related to this process. The selected articles were examined with respect to (i) the type and purpose of the study, (ii) study sample, (iii) variables and instruments and (iv) results on adaptation and stress of the parents. Twenty-two studies were found, which showed a large variety in research designs, instruments and populations. Despite methodological differences, it was possible to extract a number of factors related to resources of individual family members, the family unit as a whole and in the community, family appraisal and adaptive coping. It is important to realize that parents' adaptation may change as a function of their child's development and changing stages of family life over time. Until now cross-sectional studies have dominated this area of research, but in order to understand the process of adaptation over time, longitudinal studies are needed.
Course of behaviour problems of children with cerebral palsy: the role of parental stress and support
- Authors:
- SIPAL R. F., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 36(1), January 2010, pp.74-84.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a well-recognised neurodevelopmental condition persisting through the lifespan. In many individuals with CP, motor disorders are accompanied by other disturbances, including emotional and behavioural problems. Little is known on the course of such problems, also in relation to possible exacerbating or mitigating factors. This study aimed to test whether parental stress and support played a significant role in the course of behaviour problems. Participants aged 9, 11 and 13 were assessed and followed up after 1, 2 and 3 years. Situational and relational sources of support and stress for the primary caregiver were rated with a questionnaire on behaviour problems using the Child Behaviour Check List. Motor ability was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Behaviour problems of children with CP started significantly higher than in the general population, but diminished over the 3-year period. Older children showed fewer problems overall with girls showing fewer externalising problems than boys and children with the most severe CP having more externalising problems. Across time, an excess of stress vs. support related to parents' socio-economic and living situation and to parents' social relationships was positively related to total behaviour problems, both internalizing and externalising. The study concluded that levels of behaviour problems diminish during adolescence for children with CP. Severity of CP plays a role as well as the family context in terms of the stress and support that caregivers experience.
Are the health needs of young people with cerebral palsy met during transition from child to adult health care?
- Authors:
- SOLANKE F., COLVER A., McCONACHIE H.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 44(3), 2018, pp.355-363.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: The transition from child to adult health care is a particular challenge for young people with cerebral palsy, who have a range of needs. The measurement of reported needs, and in particular unmet needs, is one means to assess the effectiveness of services. Methods: 106 young people with cerebral palsy were recruited, before transfer from child services, along with their parents to a 3‐year longitudinal study. Reported needs were measured with an 11‐item questionnaire covering speech, mobility, positioning, equipment, pain, epilepsy, weight, control of movement, bone or joint problems, curvature of the back, and eyesight. Categorical principal component analysis was used to create factor scores for bivariate and regression analyses. Results: A high level of reported needs was identified particularly for control of movement, mobility, and equipment, but these areas were generally being addressed by services. The highest areas of unmet needs were for management of pain, bone or joint problems, and speech. Analysis of unmet needs yielded two factor scores, daily living health care and medical care. Unmet needs in daily living health care were related to severity of motor impairment and to attending nonspecialist education. Unmet needs tended to increase over time but were not significantly (p > .05) related to whether the young person had transferred from child services. Conclusions: Reporting of unmet needs can indicate where service development is required, and that the approach to measurement can be improved. As the number of unmet health needs at the start of transition is considerable, unmet health needs after transition cannot all be attributed to poor transitional health care. The range and continuation of needs of young people with cerebral palsy argue for close liaison between adult services and child services and creation of models of practice to improve coordination. (Edited publisher abstract)