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Published on: January 11, 2016
Inpatient care of children with cerebral palsy as perceived by their parents
Vanessa Phua1, Sue M Reid, Janet E Walstab
1Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Murdoch Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) reported lower satisfaction with inpatient care compared to parents of able-bodied children. Improving hospital experiences for children with CP is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Quality Improvement
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have unique and complex healthcare requirements.
- Evaluating the inpatient care experience from the parents' perspective is vital for identifying areas of improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental perceptions of inpatient care for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To compare the satisfaction levels of parents of children with CP versus parents of able-bodied children regarding hospital admissions.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was administered to 40 parents of children with CP and 90 parents of able-bodied children.
- The questionnaire evaluated perceptions of hospital admission and care received.
- The Perceived Stress Scale was also used to measure parental stress levels.
Main Results:
- Parents of able-bodied children reported significantly higher overall satisfaction with hospitalization than parents of children with CP (P < 0.0001).
- Key areas of dissatisfaction for parents of children with CP included the admissions process, quality of care, communication with healthcare professionals, and personal hospital experience.
- While parents of children with CP reported higher stress, no correlation was found between stress levels and satisfaction scores.
Conclusions:
- Parents of children with CP expressed lower satisfaction with their inpatient care experience compared to parents of able-bodied children.
- Healthcare providers must prioritize meeting the complex needs of children with CP and ensuring parental satisfaction across all aspects of hospital care.
Objectives:
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have special health care needs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the inpatient care of children with CP, as perceived by their parents.
Methods:
Forty parents of children with CP and 90 parents of able-bodied children completed a questionnaire designed to evaluate their perception of their child's hospital admission, including the care provided. The parents also completed the Perceived Stress Scale.
Results:
Overall, parents of able-bodied children were more satisfied with the hospitalization than parents of children with CP (P < 0.0001). Significant differences were found in four of the five areas assessed: the admissions process (P = 0.0002); the care that their child received (P < 0.0001); their communication and confidence in doctors and nurses (P < 0.0001); and their personal experience of the hospital (P = 0.0076). Parents of disabled children displayed a much higher mean score on the Perceived Stress Scale, but no correlation was found between this scale and the satisfaction questionnaire for either group.
Conclusion:
The results of this study show that parents of children with CP were, as a group, less satisfied than parents of able-bodied children with their inpatient experience. Although these children have complex needs and often require more care than able-bodied children, it is imperative that their needs are met and that parents are satisfied with all aspects of the care they receive in hospital.
