Cerebral Palsy (CP) is an umbrella term that defines a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture, happening during the developing foetal or infant brain. In addition to the main motor symptoms, other clinical disturbances are associated. CP represents a clinical condition with an impact in Quality Of Life (QOL) and social participation, as reported in different countries. QOL is a multidimensional construct defined as "an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns" (WHOQOL, 1998). In order to best capture the peculiarities of CP, specific questionnaires were carried out to analyse the QOL in this clinical population. The Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children (CP QOL-Child) is an internationally recognized CP-specific instrument based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Many studies have used this instrument, showing a lower QOL in children with CP compared to their typical developing peers. In literature, several studies have shown that children with CP are at risk of experiencing activity limitations and participation restriction and which can potentially affect their QOL. Participation in daily-life activities, defined as a person's "involvement in a life situation," and participation restriction, characterised as "problems an individual may experience in involvement in life situations" (ICF, World Health Organization, 2001). Studies aimed at describing participation in daily-life activities in CP have consistently found lower frequencies and fewer activities in children and adolescents with CP. In order to gain an overall picture of the QOL and participation of children and adolescents with CP, several studies underline the importance of analysing other background factors, such as motor and cognitive functioning, pain perception, and individual characteristics. The present study aims to deeper understand the perception of QOL and social participation in a group of Italian children with CP, as reported by their parents, using two commonly used questionnaires in the CP population (CP-QOL and PEM-CY). In addition, this study aims to explore the roles of specific clinical variables, such as motor function and cognitive level, on parental perceptions of QOL, in the development of QOL and participation.
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Score of CP-QOL Child questionnaire
Timeframe: Months 1-32