Journal article

Understanding allied health practitioners’ use of evidence-based assessments for children with cerebral palsy: a mixed methods study

B O’Connor, C Kerr, N Shields, C Imms

Disability and Rehabilitation | TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD | Published : 2019

Abstract

Purpose: Evidence-based assessments for children with cerebral palsy are not widely used by healthcare professionals in day-to-day practice. This study aimed to examine allied health practitioner experiences, perceptions, and use of assessments for children with cerebral palsy. Method: A mixed methods study was conducted in two rehabilitation organisations. Three focus group interviews explored therapists’ assessment experiences with data analysed using interpretive description. Assessment practices of therapists (n = 55) were assessed through self-report questionnaire and case-file audit of children with cerebral palsy (n = 44). Results: Emergent themes described therapists’ motivation to u..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants


Funding Acknowledgements

This project was completed within the "Cerebral Palsy Check Up: Providing the best service at the best time" project which was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1055278). Bridget O'Connor has received support through the Australian Government Research Training Program for her Masters of Philosophy programme and is a recipient Allied Health Postgraduate Scholarship awarded under the Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme (NAHSSS) funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health (DoH), and administered by Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH).