Actual vs. best practices for young children with cerebral palsy: A survey of paediatric occupational therapists and physical therapists in Quebec, Canada

Abstract

Wide variations and gaps were identified in clinicians' responses suggesting the need for a basic standard of OT and PT management as well as strategies to encourage knowledge dissemination regarding current best practice.

Interventions to Improve or Maintain Lower-Limb Function Among Ambulatory Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Current Practice in the UK

“…The large age-range of participants, the range of settings that participants worked in, and the wide range of regions of the UK that participants worked in, however, suggests that the sample is representative of the population of physiotherapists who work with adolescents with CP in the UK. The number of respondents is also similar to that in previous studies that assessed current rehabilitation practices for children with CP using a survey (Anaby et al, 2016;Saleh et al, 2008).…”

“…Physiotherapists report that time constraints and child/parent adherence are barriers to evidence-based practice when providing services to children with CP (Saleh et al, 2008). Other barriers to implementation of evidence-based practice that have been reported by health professionals include the influence of the opinions of leaders that may go against research evidence, obsolete knowledge of practitioners, the belief that health professionals lack authority to change clinical practice, policies that promote unproven interventions, lack of incentives to participate in effective educational activities, and patient demands for care that is ineffective (Haines et al, 2004;Sitzia et al, 2002).…”

“…This may be due to differences between countries in preregistration education, the types of interventions promoted to physiotherapists through professional organizations or postregistration courses, or the availability of country-specific evidence. However, similar to the findings of this study, a survey of physiotherapists in Canada in 2008 indicated that the most frequently recommended interventions for a 4-year-old child with spastic unilateral CP classified in GMFCS level II were stretching (66% of therapists), strengthening exercises (53.8% of therapists), treatments based on neuro-facilitation approaches (i.e., neurodevelopmental therapy, PNF and inhibition/facilitation techniques) (11.5% of therapists), and task specific training and functional exercises (7.7% of therapists) (Saleh et al, 2008).…”

Promoting wellness is achievable in rehabilitation – but what are the critical ingredients for success?

“…The Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe project is ongoing. 6 Our Australian colleagues also know how to improve practice. 7 The Shrine system, Gillette Children's Hospital, and many other orthopaedic centers are hard at work.…”

Sources of information used by paediatric occupational therapists in Chile to make clinical decisions

“…Most of the research into EBP, CR and decision making in occupational therapy has been generated from countries such as Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada (Ashburner et al, 2014;Kadar et al, 2012;McCannon et al, 2004;Saleh et al, 2008). What is not clear is whether descriptions of EBP and CR from these countries is representative of occupational therapy practice around the globe.…”