title: Occupational therapy home programs for cerebral palsy: double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to assess the effectiveness of an occupational therapy home program (OTHP), compared with no OTHP, with respect to function and parent satisfaction with child function, participation, goal attainment, and quality of upper limb skill in school-aged children with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six children with cerebral palsy (mean age: 7.7 years; male: 69%; Gross Motor Function Classification System: level I, 47%; level II, 14%; level III, 16%; level IV, 7%; level V, 16%; spasticity, 85%; dyskinesia, 14%; ataxia, 3%) were randomly and equally assigned to OTHPs for 8 or 4 weeks or to no OTHP. The primary end point was Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores 8 weeks after baseline. Secondary measures were recorded at 4 and 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight weeks of OTHP produced statistically significant differences in function and parent satisfaction with function, compared with no OTHP. Parents in the 4-week OTHP group did not discontinue use at 4 weeks, as instructed, and continued for 8 weeks; results demonstrated statistically significant differences, compared with no OTHP. There was no difference in primary or secondary end point measures between intervention groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatricians can advise families that OTHPs developed with a collaborative, evidence-based approach and implemented by parents at home were clinically effective if implemented 17.5 times per month for an average of 16.5 minutes per session.
authors.affiliation: Cerebral Palsy Institute, School of Medicine Sydney, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia. inovak@tscnsw.org.au
authors.forename: Iona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cusick
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lannin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors