Relationship between functional performance of children with cerebral palsy and health-related quality of life of their caregivers

Abstract

When dealing with the child's disabilities, caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) are likely to experience physical or psychological suffering, which may impact their health-related quality of life (QoL). This study searched for a correlation between CP children's functional performance and their caregivers' QoL, also looking for a correlation between gross motor functional level and functional performance in children with CP. The QoL of 17 caregivers of children with CP was assessed by the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36); children's functional performance was evaluated by means of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Data were statistically analysed. No significant correlation was found between children's GMFCS classification or PEDI scores and their caregivers scores in SF-36. A negative, strong correlation was found between scores at PEDI and GMFCS. The quality of life of caregivers of children with CP was hence not influenced by the children's level of functional limitation. GMFCS has shown to be a good predictor of functional performance in children with cerebral palsy.