Article

Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) experience a significant gap in
care as they move from interdisciplinary pediatric programs to limited or
non-existent care in the adult sector. A lack of knowledgeable adult care
providers has repeatedly been identified as a challenge in transitioning those
with CP from pediatric to adult care. The objective of this study was to
determine the extent to which Physiatrists provide care to adults with CP and to
identify barriers to their engagement with this population. METHOD: A survey was
distributed to Physiatrists across Canada. Results were analyzed descriptively
using SPSS software. RESULTS: Most Physiatrists provide care to very few adults
with CP (10 or less), but over 80% feel that Physiatry is the most appropriate
specialty to provide disability-related care to adults with CP following their
pediatric discharge. Among the most frequently identified barriers to caring for
this population were lack of accessible resources (i.e. social work, funded
therapy, equipment) and lack of referrals. CONCLUSIONS: Physiatrists are willing
and appropriate partners in transitioning patients with CP to adult care.
Barriers to Physiatrists' engagement with this population appear to be amenable
to change. Implications for Rehabilitation A lack of knowledgeable and interested
adult practitioners has repeatedly been identified as a challenge in transition
planning for young adults with cerebral palsy (the vast majority of whom survive
into adulthood). Physiatrists are ideally suited to manage adults with cerebral
palsy, yet in this survey-based study, a majority of Canadian Physiatrists report
caring for less than five adults with cerebral palsy on a regular basis. Barriers
to further physiatric involvement in this population were reported to include
lack of accessible resources and lack of referrals.

Langue : ANGLAIS