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An understanding of predictors of family needs for the families of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) is important for provision of efficient and cost-effective services. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of children, families and services that are risk factors to meeting family needs for community and financial resources. 234 parents of pre-school children with CP completed a modified version of the Family Needs Survey (FNS), the Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC-20), and a demographic questionnaire. The gross motor function level and communication function level of children were classified on the basis of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) respectively. Two hierarchical multiple regression models were generated to determine the predictors of unmet family needs. The socialisation and communication skills of children, as well as caregiver employment and family income levels were significant predictors of family needs for community resources (adjusted R2=0.44). Significant risk factors in terms of family needs for financial resources included the child's gross motor limitations, caregiver employment, low levels of family income and no ability to receive services on the basis of enabling and partnership principles (adjusted R2=0.51). A child's limitations in terms of communication, gross motor functions and socialisation, as well as the socioeconomic status of the child's family, must be taken into account when planning services for families with preschool children with CP.

Background: Effective assessment of outcomes in children with chronic health conditions is important to monitor their progress, evaluate interventions, and guide health policy. There is a limitation of the measures currently available for evaluating activities and participation in children with cerebral palsy according to Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health – Children & Youth Version (ICF-CY). The aim: On the ground of an available scientific literature, to identify and to analyze measures of activities and participation for paediatric patients with cerebral palsy. Materials and methods: A systematic search was performed in data basis EBSCO (Medline), Science Direct and Cochrane Library. On the ground of the previously conducted scientific research work publications, the identified evaluative measures were reviewed for their characteristics, psychometric properties of reliability and/or validity and analyzed for their utility. Their accordance to the activities and participation domains of the ICF-CY was identified and the practical use of the evaluative measures was proposed. Results and conclusion: 28 measures were identified; 15 were systematically reviewed and analyzed. Measures that assess only activities are found to be seven, only participation – two, and both activities and participation are assessed by six measures. When relating the measures to the domains of ICF-CY, the most appropriate for measuring activities is ASKp, participation – Life-H for Children, whereas for activities and participation – PEDI and COPM. The identified and analyzed measures reflect different activities and participation domains of ICF-CY; therefore, the choice and the practical use of the certain measure depend on the aim of the assessment.

In order to provide targeted support to families who are raising children with developmental disorders, it is important to study the family needs and to understand circumstances that may affect them. The aim of this study was to identify the needs of the families with preschool children with cerebral palsy, and study how these needs relate to factors associated with families, children and rehabilitation services. Descriptive analysis showed that families living in Latvia most often need information, social and financial support and coordination of services, and they also need financial support to cover the costs of child care and treatment. The results of the data analysis support the hypothesis that factors characterising families, children with cerebral palsy and rehabilitation services affect the needs of the families with preschool children with cerebral palsy living in Latvia, and the unique impact of these factors depends on the type of needs. Regression analysis revealed that the most important factors affecting the needs of families were related with the socio-economic situation, as well as the support of peers and professionals. The availability and regularity of rehabilitation services, limitations to the child's functions and health impairments were factors that affected family needs to a lesser extent.

Background and Objective: An understanding of the needs of families of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) is of essential importance if efficient and cost-effective services are to be provided to them. The aims of this study were to identify the most frequently expressed needs of families with preschool children with CP; differences in the amount and types of family needs based on the child's gross motor function and communication function level; and the impact of the child's gross motor function and communication function level on the type and amount of family needs., Materials and Methods: A total of 227 parents of preschool children with CP completed a modified version of the Family Needs Survey and a demographic questionnaire. Children's gross motor function level and communication function level was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), respectively., Results: The total number of family needs differed based on GMFCS and CFCS levels. Children's GMFCS and CFCS level were not significant predictors of overall family needs (adjusted R(2)=0.163). In this model the GMFCS level of children did not account for the total number of family needs, while the CFCS level did., Conclusions: Child's limitations in terms of communication and gross motor functions must be taken into consideration when planning services for families with preschool children with CP., (Copyright © 2014 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.)