Family-centred health care for children with cerebral palsy

To identify characteristics of young children with cerebral palsy (CP), and intrinsic and extrinsic factors, that may be associated with parental perceptions regarding family-centred health care services.

We conducted a cross-sectional study, drawing our sample from the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry (CCPR). Parents rated the extent of family-centred care provided by their child's health care teams using the 56-item Measures of Process of Care (MPOC) questionnaire. Environmental and CP phenotypic variables were extracted from the CCPR for group comparisons. Low and high MPOC-56 raters were also compared.

Valid responses were obtained from 282 families (90%). All MPOC-56 subscales were highly rated (median ≥6.0), indicating satisfaction with health care services, with the exception of the Providing General Information subscale (median 4.8, interquartile range 3.2-6.0). Parents from Nova Scotia rated all subscales significantly higher than parents from other regions. CP subtype and severity were not significantly associated with MPOC-56 subscale scores. Higher socio-economic status was associated with lower MPOC-56 subscale scores. Higher paternal educational attainment and household income were significantly associated with lower scores on the Providing General Information and Providing Specific Information about the Child subscales respectively.

Participants affirmed the provision of family-centred services from Canadian pediatric rehabilitation centres. Sociodemographic factors were associated with parental perceptions of family-centred services.

Sociodemographic factors were associated with parental perceptions of family-centred care. Factors intrinsic to the child's cerebral palsy were not associated with parental perceptions.