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Impact of child and family characteristics on cerebral palsy treatment
Author(s) -
Rackauskaite Gija,
Uldall Peter W,
Bech Bodil H,
Østergaard John R
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.12791
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , gross motor function classification system , odds ratio , logistic regression , medicine , pediatrics , physical therapy , population , danish , psychology , environmental health , linguistics , philosophy
Aim The aim of the study was to describe the relationship between the child's and family's characteristics and the most common treatment modalities in a national population‐based sample of 8‐ to 15‐year‐old children with cerebral palsy. Method A cross‐sectional study, based on the Danish Cerebral Palsy Registry. The parents of 462 children answered a questionnaire about their child's treatment and the family's characteristics (living with a single parent, having siblings, living in a city, parental education level). Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed for every treatment modality, stratified by Gross Motor Function Classification System ( GMFCS ) level. Results An IQ below 85 was associated with weekly therapy in GMFCS level I (adjusted odds ratio [ OR adj ] 2.5 [ CI 1.1–5.7]) and the use of oral spasmolytics in GMFCS levels III to V ( OR adj 3.1 [ CI 1.3–7.4]). Older children in GMFCS levels III to V used daily orthoses less frequently ( OR adj 0.7 [ CI 0.6–0.9] per year). Of all of the family characteristics studied, only the parents' education level had significant associations with more than one treatment modality. Interpretation A child's cognitive function showed an impact on treatment of the motor impairment in children 8 to 15 years of age with cerebral palsy. Parental education level may influence the choice of treatment.