Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Supports and barriers to implementation of routine clinical assessment for children with cerebral palsy: A
Claire Kerr1,2, Nora Shields3,4, Lyndsay Quarmby5,6
1a Centre for Disability and Development Research , Australian Catholic University , Fitzroy , Victoria , Australia.
Insights
Implementing routine clinical assessment for children with cerebral palsy faces organizational challenges. Adequate resources and clear communication are vital for successful, sustained adoption of evidence-based practices.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Routine clinical assessment is crucial for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Understanding supports and barriers is key to effective implementation.
- This study examines factors influencing routine assessment in Australian pediatric therapy services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate supports and barriers to evidence-based routine clinical assessment for children with CP.
- To identify factors influencing the adoption and sustainability of routine assessments.
- To compare experiences between organizations with different implementation histories.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-methods study involving physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists.
- Quantitative data from the Supports and Barriers Questionnaire (n=227).
- Qualitative data from focus groups (n=37) analyzed thematically.
Main Results:
- Organizational structures, resources, therapists, assessment tools, and families were generally supportive.
- No significant differences between commencing and comparison organizations, except for perceived therapist support in commencing ones.
- Five key themes emerged: motivation, expertise, communication, resources, and therapist perceptions of child/family wishes.
Conclusions:
- Organizations face challenges in sustained implementation of routine clinical assessment.
- Adequate resourcing and clear, positive communication are critical for success.
- Tailored solutions and clear management communication are needed for effective practice change.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to investigate supports and barriers to evidence-based routine clinical assessment of children with cerebral palsy.
Method:
This mixed methods study included physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists providing services to children with cerebral palsy (3-18 years) within five organizations across Australia. Four organizations initiated standardized routine clinical data collection (Commencing organizations), and one had previously mandated routine assessment (Comparison organization). Participants completed the Supports and Barriers Questionnaire (n = 227) and participated in focus groups (n = 8 groups, 37 participants). Quantitative data were summarized descriptively, qualitative data were analyzed thematically and comparisons between organizations assessed.
Results:
Organizational structures, resources, therapists within organizations, assessment tools, and children and families were, on average, viewed as supportive of routine clinical assessment. There were no differences between the Comparison and Commencing organizations except 'therapists within the organization' were viewed as more supportive by the Commencing organizations (p = 0.037). Five themes were derived from qualitative analyzes: motivation to adopt routine clinical assessment; acquiring and utilizing expertise; ensuring effective ongoing communication; availability and distribution of resources; and therapist perceptions of child and family wishes.
Conclusions:
Organizations experience challenges to effective and sustained implementation of routine clinical assessment. Adequate resourcing and positive, clear communication were perceived as critical for success. Implications for Rehabilitation The value of routine clinical assessment of children with cerebral palsy is undisputed. Tailored solutions to organization-specific challenges are required when implementing routine clinical assessment for children with cerebral palsy. Positive, clear communication of organizational priorities by management may assist AHPs to prioritize workload activities when changing practice.
More Related Videos
08:26Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016
09:18Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019