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Systematic review of the efficacy of parenting interventions for children with cerebral palsy
1Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. koawhittingham@uq.edu.au
Insights
Parenting interventions show promise for children with cerebral palsy (CP), improving child behavior. However, more rigorous research, like randomized controlled trials, is needed to confirm effectiveness and guide evidence-based practices.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often experience behavioral challenges.
- Parenting interventions aim to improve child outcomes and parenting skills.
- Existing research on parenting interventions for CP is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the efficacy of parenting interventions for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To evaluate impacts on child behavioral outcomes and parenting style/skill outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of major databases (Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science) up to April 2010.
- Inclusion of studies examining targeted parenting interventions using pre-post designs.
- Exclusion of randomized clinical trials due to lack of identified studies.
Main Results:
- Three studies utilizing pre-post designs were identified.
- Interventions included behavioral interventions, oral motor exercises, Hanen It Takes Two to Talk, and Functional Communication Training.
- All reviewed studies reported positive changes in child behavioral outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Parenting interventions may be effective for parents of children with CP.
- Current evidence is limited to pre-post designs of targeted interventions.
- A randomized controlled trial is urgently needed to establish evidence-based practices for CP behavioral and parenting challenges.
Abstract:
This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of parenting interventions (i.e. behavioural family intervention and parent training) with parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) on child behavioural outcomes and parenting style/skill outcomes. The following databases were searched: Medline (1950-April 2010), PubMed (1951-April 2010), PsycINFO (1840-April 2010), CINAHL (1982-April 2010) and Web of Science (1900-April 2010). No randomized clinical trials of parenting interventions with parents of children with CP were identified. Three studies were identified that involved the examination of a targeted parenting intervention via a pre-post design. Interventions utilized included the implementation of parenting interventions in conjunction with behavioural intervention and oral motor exercises for children with CP and feeding difficulties, the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk programme and a Functional Communication Training programme for parents. All studies found changes in relevant child behavioural outcomes. The studies reviewed suggest that parenting interventions may be an effective intervention for parents of children with CP. However, the current research is limited to pre-post designs of targeted parenting interventions (e.g. parenting interventions focused upon communication). A randomized controlled trial of parenting interventions for families of children with CP is urgently needed to address this paucity in the literature and provide families of children with CP with an evidence-based intervention to address child behavioural and emotional problems as well as parenting challenges.
