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Telehealth and Remote Interventions for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Scoping Review
Marina Pagaki-Skaliora1, Eileen Morrow1,2, Tim Theologis1,2
1Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
|August 30, 2022
Summary
Telehealth shows promise for children with cerebral palsy (CP), offering comparable or improved outcomes and reduced caregiver burden. Further research is needed for lower limb function, postural management, and pain control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Digital Health
- Cerebral Palsy Management
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth for children with cerebral palsy (CP) due to limited access to in-person care.
- Despite increased use, a comprehensive synthesis of existing telehealth evidence for pediatric CP is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and summarize the current evidence on telehealth interventions for treating children with CP.
- To identify gaps in the research for future investigation.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review was conducted using MEDLINE and PubMed, searching for literature published between 2010 and 2021.
- Inclusion criteria focused on primary research and systematic reviews of telehealth for children with CP, with specific exclusion criteria applied.
Main Results:
- The review identified 5 papers encompassing 11 studies, predominantly of low methodological quality (case series).
- Telehealth interventions showed positive results for children with CP, comparable or superior to traditional care, and reduced caregiver burden.
- Evidence suggests telehealth needs vary by developmental stage and functional level, with mixed findings on patient compliance.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence base for telehealth in pediatric CP lacks breadth and methodological rigor for definitive clinical recommendations.
- Existing research primarily focuses on hand function, highlighting a need for studies on lower limb function, postural management, and pain control.
- Telehealth demonstrates potential for improving function and accessibility in pediatric CP care, with implementation barriers also meriting further study.
