Perspectives of Parents and Professionals on Assistive Devices Utilised by Persons with Cerebral Palsy
Abstract
Introduction: The 2011 Census estimated that 2.7 crore people have any form of disability in India. Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the disabilities recognised by major acts in India. Assistive technology plays an important role in improving the functional independence of people with CP. The feedback from the parents and other stakeholders on handling persons with CP is helpful in identifying their unmet needs and helping to develop new devices and upgrade their features. The present study aims to gather the perspectives of parents and professionals on assistive devices utilised by persons with CP.
Methods: The data was collected from 67 parents and 57 professionals, totaling 124 people. The snowball sampling method was used to select the participants. Two semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect the data. Four individual interviews and fourteen group interviews were conducted. The recorded data was transcribed and thematically analysed using qualitative research methods and
predetermined themes.
Results: The study results explain the need for developing new assistive devices and the list of modifications required in the existing devices used by persons with CP. The themes explain the mobility aids, like singlearm or lever-operated wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs in foldable models, menstrual hygiene products suitable for sustained duration, patient transfer systems (e.g., manual/ electric patient lift transfer chairs), computer-assisted orthotic devices for precise measurement and health insurance reimbursement for assistive devices.
Conclusions: Participants expressed their needs and provided suggestions for improving the device’s utility and service delivery. Detailed research is to be carried out in these aspects to identify the suitability of its use
in persons with CP.
How to cite this article:
Govindarajan T, Turin M A. Perspectives of
Parents and Professionals on Assistive Devices
Utilised by Persons with Cerebral Palsy. Chettinad
Health City Med J. 2025;14(1):59-64.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2278.2044.202509
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