Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the addition of an education programme for primary
caregivers to rehabilitation improves daily functioning in children with cerebral
palsy. DESIGN: A randomized, single-blind, controlled study. SETTING: This study
was conducted in a rehabilitation centre in Salvador, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: A
total of 63 boys and girls with cerebral palsy, at 1-12 years of age, with Gross
Motor Function Classification Systems I-V, were randomly assigned to two groups:
educational programme for primary caregivers and conventional rehabilitation ( n
= 29) or conventional rehabilitation alone ( n = 31). INTERVENTION: Each group
received 12 sessions of 30 minutes of conventional rehabilitation and 12 sessions
of 45 minutes to intervention group. MEASUREMENTS: Gross Motor Function
Classification System, Gross Motor Function Measure and daily functioning with
the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory were assessed by a blinded
assessor. The clinical outcomes were obtained at the completion of treatment (12 weeks). RESULTS: Of the 63 patients included, 60 (mean +/- SD age: 4.6 +/- 2.74
years) completed the protocol. The combined education and rehabilitation, as
compared with conventional rehabilitation alone, yielded significantly greater
benefit in the self-care domain of the Functional Skills Scale (mean change 1.74
versus 5; P = 0.001), self-care (mean change 5.52 versus 13.99; P = 0.017) and
the mobility domain of the Caregiver Assistance Scale of Pediatric Evaluation of
Disability Inventory (mean change 0.87 versus 17.88; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION:
Self-care and mobility improved in children with cerebral palsy with the addition
to conventional rehabilitation of an educational programme for primary caregivers.

Langue : ANGLAIS