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Sleep problems and solution seeking for children with cerebral palsy and their parents
Author(s) -
Petersen Sacha,
Francis Kate L,
Reddihough Dinah S,
Lima Sally,
Harvey Adrienne,
Newall Fiona
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.14830
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebral palsy , sleep (system call) , gross motor skill , pediatrics , psychiatry , physical therapy , motor skill , computer science , operating system
Aim Sleep problems are common in school‐aged children with cerebral palsy (CP). Despite the significant impact of sleep disturbance and deprivation, there is a paucity of research in the area. The aims of this study were to (i) investigate the frequency of sleep problems in children with CP and their parents and (ii) understand what happens when parents ask for help with sleep problems from their health‐care professionals. Methods This was a prospective cohort study using an online survey sent to parents/primary care givers of children with CP aged 6–12 years recruited through the Victorian Cerebral Palsy Register. The following sleep assessment tools: The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Gross Motor Function Classification System Parent Rating Tool were administered along with custom‐designed questions that were informed by a preceding qualitative scoping study. Results Complete data sets were received from 126 parents/care givers. Almost half (46%) of the parents reported their child had sleep problems. Of the 64 parents who reported seeking help for a child's sleep problem, only 21 indicated that their attempt was successful. If a child had poor sleep, the parent was more likely to have a sleep problem than parents who did not report poor child sleeping. Conclusion Sleep problems are common in children with CP and their parents. Parents do not always seek help, and those who do may not find an effective solution. Future research should explore how sleep problems can be effectively prioritised for children with CP and their parents/care givers.