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The implementation of systematic monitoring of cognition in children with cerebral palsy in Sweden and Norway

Knudsen, Maja ; Stadskleiv, Kristine ; O'Regan, Elisabeth LU ; Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann I LU ; Andersen, Guro L ; Hollung, Sandra Julsen ; Korsfelt, Åsa and Ödman, Pia (2023) In Disability and Rehabilitation 45(15). p.2497-2506
Abstract

PURPOSE: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk of cognitive impairments and need to be cognitively assessed to allow for individualized interventions, if applicable. Therefore, a systematic protocol for the follow-up of cognition in children with CP, CP Cog, with assessments offered at five/six and 12/13 years of age, was developed. This report presents and discusses assessment practices in Sweden and Norway following the introduction of CP Cog and a quality improvement project in Norway aimed at increasing the number of children offered cognitive assessments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire investigating assessment practices was sent to pediatric habilitation centers in Sweden and Norway. In Norway, the... (More)

PURPOSE: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk of cognitive impairments and need to be cognitively assessed to allow for individualized interventions, if applicable. Therefore, a systematic protocol for the follow-up of cognition in children with CP, CP Cog, with assessments offered at five/six and 12/13 years of age, was developed. This report presents and discusses assessment practices in Sweden and Norway following the introduction of CP Cog and a quality improvement project in Norway aimed at increasing the number of children offered cognitive assessments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire investigating assessment practices was sent to pediatric habilitation centers in Sweden and Norway. In Norway, the habilitation centers also participated in a quality improvement project aimed at increasing adherence to the CP Cog protocol.

RESULTS: Of the respondents, 64-70% report that they assess cognition in children with all degrees of motor impairment, and 70-80% assess at the ages recommended in CP Cog. Following the quality improvement project in Norway, the percentage of children assessed increased from 34 to 62%.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings illustrate that the provision of information is not sufficient to change practice. Implementation of new re/habilitation procedures is aided by targeting health care practices individually.Implications for rehabilitationChildren with cerebral palsy (CP) have increased risk of cognitive impairments that require intervention.Assessments of cognition should be offered to all children with CP because the nature of cognitive impairments may vary.Introducing a follow-up protocol of how and when to perform cognitive assessments is a step towards ensuring equal access to the services for all children with CP.A quality improvement project might be a viable method for implementing a protocol into everyday clinical practice.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Disability and Rehabilitation
volume
45
issue
15
pages
2497 - 2506
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85133552640
  • pmid:35793099
ISSN
0963-8288
DOI
10.1080/09638288.2022.2094477
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8609368c-ce0d-4cdf-9b8e-0e70597008fd
date added to LUP
2022-07-29 09:50:39
date last changed
2024-04-18 12:12:50
@article{8609368c-ce0d-4cdf-9b8e-0e70597008fd,
  abstract     = {{<p>PURPOSE: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk of cognitive impairments and need to be cognitively assessed to allow for individualized interventions, if applicable. Therefore, a systematic protocol for the follow-up of cognition in children with CP, CP Cog, with assessments offered at five/six and 12/13 years of age, was developed. This report presents and discusses assessment practices in Sweden and Norway following the introduction of CP Cog and a quality improvement project in Norway aimed at increasing the number of children offered cognitive assessments. </p><p>MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire investigating assessment practices was sent to pediatric habilitation centers in Sweden and Norway. In Norway, the habilitation centers also participated in a quality improvement project aimed at increasing adherence to the CP Cog protocol. </p><p>RESULTS: Of the respondents, 64-70% report that they assess cognition in children with all degrees of motor impairment, and 70-80% assess at the ages recommended in CP Cog. Following the quality improvement project in Norway, the percentage of children assessed increased from 34 to 62%. </p><p>CONCLUSIONS: The findings illustrate that the provision of information is not sufficient to change practice. Implementation of new re/habilitation procedures is aided by targeting health care practices individually.Implications for rehabilitationChildren with cerebral palsy (CP) have increased risk of cognitive impairments that require intervention.Assessments of cognition should be offered to all children with CP because the nature of cognitive impairments may vary.Introducing a follow-up protocol of how and when to perform cognitive assessments is a step towards ensuring equal access to the services for all children with CP.A quality improvement project might be a viable method for implementing a protocol into everyday clinical practice.</p>}},
  author       = {{Knudsen, Maja and Stadskleiv, Kristine and O'Regan, Elisabeth and Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann I and Andersen, Guro L and Hollung, Sandra Julsen and Korsfelt, Åsa and Ödman, Pia}},
  issn         = {{0963-8288}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{15}},
  pages        = {{2497--2506}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Disability and Rehabilitation}},
  title        = {{The implementation of systematic monitoring of cognition in children with cerebral palsy in Sweden and Norway}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2094477}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09638288.2022.2094477}},
  volume       = {{45}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}