Experience of Engagement in a Somatosensory Discrimination Intervention for Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Qualitative Investigation

Dev Neurorehabil. 2019 Jul;22(5):348-358. doi: 10.1080/17518423.2018.1503620. Epub 2018 Aug 16.

Abstract

Background: To successfully modify an intervention from an adult population for use with children with cerebral palsy, it is important to understand the components that support a child's motivation and engagement. Method: Ten children who had participated in the Sense© intervention (mean age = 11 years 2 m [SD = 2 years]; four males; Manual Ability Classification System level I = 1, II = 9) and their primary caregivers (N = 11, 10 females) were interviewed. Transcripts were analyzed using framework analysis. Results: Key themes were identified in the core domains of the Synthesis of Child, Occupational Performance and Environment in Time model. Child: children's somatosensory discrimination ability improved; Motivation: incorporating child's goals was essential, as were real-world gains; Environmental: parents were interested in having more involvement in the intervention. Conclusion: The most engaging elements of the intervention for children were the attainment of their self-selected goals. Opportunities to modify the intervention for improved partnership with parents were identified.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; engagement; proprioception; somatosensory discrimination; touch perception.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebral Palsy / physiopathology*
  • Cerebral Palsy / rehabilitation
  • Child
  • Discrimination, Psychological*
  • Early Intervention, Educational / methods*
  • Female
  • Hemiplegia / physiopathology*
  • Hemiplegia / rehabilitation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motivation
  • Neurological Rehabilitation / methods*
  • Proprioception
  • Touch Perception*