The construct and concurrent validity of MPOC-NL was shown by confirmative analyses of the original Canadian scale structure, and by modest Spearman correlations between MPOC-NL scores and satisfaction and stress variables. MPOC-NL is internally consistent and reliable.

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of therapeutic motor interventions for children with or at risk for cerebral palsy (CP), examining 50 studies covering the period from 1990 to 2001. The purpose was to review noticeable changes in the scientific quality of the studies and to highlight trends and changes in the nature of the evaluated programmes. Our results were compared with those of Vermeer and Bakx (1990) who reviewed the period from 1980 to 1989. It was concluded that fundamental research with adequate methodology was applied more often in the study period than in the period reviewed by Vermeer and Bakx. However, these developments did not lead to a substantial improvement in the scientific foundation of the interventions under study. Single case studies, combined with efforts to develop measures specifically for children with CP and with high sensitivity, might make more valuable contributions to the scientific justification of therapeutic interventions.

Parents are to a large extent involved in all stages of the treatment process in Dutch paediatric rehabilitation settings. Although parents valued the services received, they suggested various ways to enhance parent participation.

Based on responses of parents and healthcare professionals the FNI-PR has been developed, a comprehensive inventory for family needs that can be used in paediatric rehabilitation. An inventory checked by parents resulted in more family needs than a single open-ended question. The inventory may facilitate the implementation of family-centred care.

The Dutch MPOC-SP is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the family-centredness of service delivery.

No abstract

The 20-item version of the MPOC (Dutch MPOC-20) is a reliable and valid measure of the family-centredness of paediatric rehabilitation.

Parents rate the importance of family-centred services for their situation in various ways. These findings endorse that family-centred services should recognize the uniqueness of families and should be tailored to what parents find important.