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Aim The aim of this report is to describe the health status of 8-12-year-old children with cerebral palsy (CP) of all severities in Europe using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Method A total of 818 children with CP from nine centres in defined geographical areas participated. CP type, gross and fine motor function, additional impairments were classified and family data were obtained. The CHQ was used to measure the parent's perception of their child's physical (PHY) and psychosocial (PSY) health. Results PHY scores were lower than the reference samples with a median of 46. The severity of gross motor function influenced the CHQ scores significantly in the PHY scale with the lowest scores for children with least gross motor function. There were significant differences between the CP types in PHY with the higher scores for children with unilateral spastic and the lowest scores for children with bilateral spastic and dyskinetic CP type. Fine motor function severity significantly affected both the PHY and PSY scales. The severity of intellectual impairment was significantly associated with CHQ scores in most dimensions with higher scores for higher IQ level in PHY and PSY. Children with seizures during the last year had a significantly lower health compared with children without seizures. The results of the multivariate regression analyses (forward stepwise regression) of CHQ scores on CP subtype, gross and fine motor function, cognitive function, additional impairments, seizures, parental education and employment revealed gross motor function, cognitive level and type of school attended were significant prognostic factors. Conclusion This report is based on the largest sample to date of children with CP. Health status as measured using the CHQ was affected in all children and was highly variable. Gross motor function level correlates with health from the PHY well-being perspective but the PSY and emotional aspects do not appear to follow the same pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An instrument to measure environmental factors relevant to physically impaired children is being developed in a European context. Preliminary work in England had identified some potentially important themes. Further inquiry was needed to identify issues important in other European countries. Objective To inform the content of a questionnaire relevant to the environment of children with cerebral palsy (CP) living in Europe. Design A qualitative study using discussion groups. Participants Parents of 28 children with CP from five countries; Denmark, France, Italy, Ireland and Sweden. One discussion group was held in each country with an average of seven parents per group. Results The four themes identified in the preliminary work done in England were strongly confirmed across Europe – namely: Mobility, Transport, Support by and to parents, and Attitudes of individuals and institutions towards children. Two new themes identified in the discussion groups were Bureaucracy and Access to information about rights and entitlements. Conclusions The environmental factors that cause concern to parents of children with CP are similar across Europe. A prototype environmental questionnaire has been developed based on these findings. The environmental questionnaire is in use in a study in nine European centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]