Article

PURPOSE: To identify facilitators and barriers frequently experienced by families
of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and associated with being at the
pre-intention, intention and action stages for physical activity. METHOD:
Qualitative study involving in-depth focus group interviews with 33 ambulatory
children and adolescents with CP and their parents (n = 33). These interviews
were followed by questionnaires to determine stage of behavior change (i.e.
pre-intention, intention and action) related to the child's participation in
physical activity. RESULTS: Families who were classified in the intention stage
of behavioral change were more likely to identify environmental barriers related
to the social environment and the facility or program than parents at the
pre-intention stage. Families who were classified into intention and action
stages were more likely to identify facilitators related to parental factors than
families at the pre-intention stage. Moreover, at the action stage facilitators
were related to the facility/program. CONCLUSIONS: The identified facilitators
and barriers, organized according to three stages of change (pre-intention,
intention and action), provide important theoretical insights into how and why
children and adolescents with CP and their parents might change their physical
activity behavior. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Understanding the barriers
and facilitators of physical activity for children and adolescents with CP is
essential for designing effective interventions to promote participation in this
group. Using the three stages of change and the identified barriers and
facilitators for participation can result in tailored advice to increase physical
activity behavior.

Langue : ANGLAIS