Unmet Health Needs among Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy in Ireland: A Cross-Sectional Study
Jennifer M Ryan1, Michael Walsh2, Mary Owens3
1Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, D02 DH60 Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) experience significant unmet health needs, particularly in speech and epilepsy. Transitioning from pediatric to adult care did not affect these needs, emphasizing a life-course approach for better CP services.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Neurology
- Public health
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects young adults, yet their specific health needs during transition periods are under-researched.
- Understanding unmet health needs is crucial for developing targeted healthcare services for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe unmet health needs in young adults with CP in Ireland.
- To investigate if unmet health needs differ between those discharged and not yet discharged from pediatric services.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 75 young adults (16-22 years) with CP.
- Questionnaire assessing unmet health needs.
- Logistic regression to analyze the association between discharge status and unmet needs.
Main Results:
- The most common unmet needs were for speech (64%), epilepsy (50%), and issues related to equipment, mobility, and bone/joint problems (39-38%).
- Discharge status from children's services did not significantly correlate with unmet health needs after adjusting for ambulatory status.
Conclusions:
- Young adults with CP face substantial unmet health needs across various domains.
- A life-course perspective is essential for providing continuous and appropriate CP care, irrespective of age or transition status.
Abstract:
Data describing the unmet health needs of young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) may support the development of appropriate health services. This study aimed to describe unmet health needs among young adults with CP in Ireland and examine if these differed between young adults who were and were not yet discharged from children's services. In this cross-sectional study, young adults with CP aged 16-22 years completed a questionnaire assessing unmet health needs. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between discharge status and unmet health needs. Seventy-five young adults (mean age 18.4 yr; 41% female; 60% in GMFCS levels I-III) were included in the study. Forty (53%) had been discharged from children's services. Unmet health need, as a proportion of those with needs, was highest for speech (0.64), followed by epilepsy (0.50) and equipment, mobility, control of movement and bone or joint problems (0.39 or 0.38). After adjusting for ambulatory status, unmet health needs did not differ according to discharge status. The proportion of young adults with unmet health needs highlights the importance of taking a life-course approach to CP and providing appropriate services to people with CP regardless of age.
