The family needs of parents of preschool children with cerebral palsy : The impact of child's gross motor and communications functions
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Background and objective: An understanding of the needs of families of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) is of essential importance if efficient and cost-effective services are to be provided to them. The aims of this study were to identify the most frequently expressed needs of families with preschool children with CP; differences in the amount and types of family needs based on the child's gross motor function and communication function level; and the impact of the child's gross motor function and communication function level on the type and amount of family needs. Materials and methods: A total of 227 parents of preschool children with CP completed a modified version of the Family Needs Survey and a demographic questionnaire. Children's gross motor function level and communication function level was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), respectively. Results: The total number of family needs differed based on GMFCS and CFCS levels. Children's GMFCS and CFCS level were not significant predictors of overall family needs (adjusted R2 = 0.163). In this model the GMFCS level of children did not account for the total number of family needs, while the CFCS level did. Conclusions: Child's limitations in terms of communication and gross motor functions must be taken into consideration when planning services for families with preschool children with CP.
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Publisher Copyright: © 2014 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.
Keywords
Cerebral palsy, Children, Family needs, 3.2 Clinical medicine, 3.3 Health sciences, 3.1 Basic medicine, 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database, General Medicine
Citation
Bertule, D & Vetra, A 2014, 'The family needs of parents of preschool children with cerebral palsy : The impact of child's gross motor and communications functions', Medicina (Lithuania), vol. 50, no. 6, pp. 323-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medici.2014.11.005