HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN CEREBRAL PALSY: AGREEMENT BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS, CAREGIVERS AND PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF ADOLESCENTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: AGREEMENT BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS, CAREGIVERS AND PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has recently become a widely used outcome measure. Although self-reporting is considered the gold standard, proxy reports are commonly used for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).

Study Question: Is there agreement between adolescents, caregivers and physiotherapists in health-related quality of life reports in adolescents with cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy are often accompanied by sensory, perceptual, developmental, and behavioral problems, as well as epilepsy and secondary musculoskeletal disorders. As a result of these impairments, children and adolescents with CP have functional limitation that affect their daily lives. These limitations adversely affect their quality of life depending on the severity of functional impairments. Health-related quality of life is conceptualized as an individual's subjective evaluation of life domains that are perceived to be influenced by a medical condition or its treatment. Informed by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the socio-ecological model, the primary aim of interventions for individuals with cerebral palsy and their families should be to enhance quality of life. Previous research has shown that the level of agreement on HRQoL between physicians and adolescents is generally lower than that between parents and adolescents. When the caregiver is more familiar with the adolescent with CP-such as a parent rather than a medical professional-the likelihood of agreement between the adolescent and the caregiver tends to be higher. Agreement on target problems is essential for effective treatment planning. Differences between adolescents and their caregivers can influence treatment decisions; thus, combining self- and proxy-reports offers a more comprehensive assessment of HRQoL. Therefore, a multi-informant approach, considered the gold standard in CP research and practice, integrates reports from children, parents, and when appropriate professionals such as teachers or clinicians, providing a comprehensive assessment of the child's quality of life across different contexts.

Another important issue in measuring quality of life in individuals with CP is that the scales used should address CP-specific concerns. Therefore, using CP-specific measurement tools is recommended to provide clearer outcomes for intervention processes. Although research has compared the quality of life perspectives of children and adolescents with CP and their parents, there remains a lack of studies investigating the agreement between reports from adolescents with CP, their parents, and the professionals involved in their care. The main objective of this study is to assess the agreement and differences between the views of adolescents with CP, their families.

Inclusion Criteria:

• being diagnosed with CP of all clinical types,
• aged 11-18 years,
• who can understand and answer the questions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents who did not attend regular therapy sessions
• Physiotherapists who performed therapy sessions with the adolescent for less than four weeks