Objective: To assess whether the addition of an education programme for primary caregivers to rehabilitation improves daily functioning in children with cerebral palsy.
Design: A randomized, single-blind, controlled study.
Setting: This study was conducted in a rehabilitation centre in Salvador, Brazil.
Participants: A total of 63 boys and girls with cerebral palsy, at 1-12 years of age, with Gross Motor Function Classification Systems I-V, were randomly assigned to two groups: educational programme for primary caregivers and conventional rehabilitation ( n = 29) or conventional rehabilitation alone ( n = 31).
Intervention: Each group received 12 sessions of 30 minutes of conventional rehabilitation and 12 sessions of 45 minutes to intervention group.
Measurements: Gross Motor Function Classification System, Gross Motor Function Measure and daily functioning with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory were assessed by a blinded assessor. The clinical outcomes were obtained at the completion of treatment (12 weeks).
Results: Of the 63 patients included, 60 (mean ± SD age: 4.6 ± 2.74 years) completed the protocol. The combined education and rehabilitation, as compared with conventional rehabilitation alone, yielded significantly greater benefit in the self-care domain of the Functional Skills Scale (mean change 1.74 versus 5; P = 0.001), self-care (mean change 5.52 versus 13.99; P = 0.017) and the mobility domain of the Caregiver Assistance Scale of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (mean change 0.87 versus 17.88; P = 0.002).
Conclusion: Self-care and mobility improved in children with cerebral palsy with the addition to conventional rehabilitation of an educational programme for primary caregivers.
Keywords: Cerebral palsy; caregiver; rehabilitation.