Elaine Meehan1,2, Adrienne Harvey1,2,3, Susan M Reid1,2, Dinah S Reddihough1,2,3, Katrina Williams1,2,3, Kylie E Crompton1,2, Suhaila Omar4, Adam Scheinberg4. 1. Developmental Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3. Developmental Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 4. Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of therapy service use for a sample of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy over a 1 year period and to identify factors associated with frequency of therapy and parental satisfaction with therapy frequency. METHODS: Parents of 83 children completed a survey on their child's use of occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language pathology services over the previous year. Participants were randomly selected from a sample stratified by age and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level. RESULTS: During the year prior to survey completion, 83% of children had received occupational therapy, 88% had received physiotherapy and 60% had received speech and language pathology services. Frequency of therapy was higher for younger children (P < 0.01), those classified at GMFCS levels IV-V (P < 0.05) and those attending schools specifically for children with disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Current structures for therapy service delivery for children with cerebral palsy are systems-based, and age-based funding systems and the organisation of services around the education system are preventing the delivery of needs-based therapy. Paediatricians that care for children and young people with cerebral palsy need to pay particular attention to those that may miss out on therapy due to age or school type, and support these families in accessing appropriate therapy.
AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of therapy service use for a sample of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy over a 1 year period and to identify factors associated with frequency of therapy and parental satisfaction with therapy frequency. METHODS: Parents of 83 children completed a survey on their child's use of occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language pathology services over the previous year. Participants were randomly selected from a sample stratified by age and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level. RESULTS: During the year prior to survey completion, 83% of children had received occupational therapy, 88% had received physiotherapy and 60% had received speech and language pathology services. Frequency of therapy was higher for younger children (P < 0.01), those classified at GMFCS levels IV-V (P < 0.05) and those attending schools specifically for children with disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Current structures for therapy service delivery for children with cerebral palsy are systems-based, and age-based funding systems and the organisation of services around the education system are preventing the delivery of needs-based therapy. Paediatricians that care for children and young people with cerebral palsy need to pay particular attention to those that may miss out on therapy due to age or school type, and support these families in accessing appropriate therapy.
Authors: Gwenaël Cornec; Sylvain Brochard; Gaelle Drewnowski; Isabelle Desguerre; Philippe Toullet; Audrey Fontaine; Yann Le Lay; Julia Boivin; Eric Bérard; Maria Bodoria; Vincent Gautheron; Javier De la Cruz Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-02-10 Impact factor: 4.003