title: Impact of obstetrical brachial plexus injury on parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to describe the impact of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) on parents and to investigate the effect of the severity of OBPP and the age of the children on parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 106 parents (with a mean age of 30.14 ± 5.01 years) of children with OBPP were included in the study. The functional level of the children was assessed by the Active Movement Scale, whereas the impact of OBPP on the parents was assessed by the Turkish version of the Impact on Family Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parents appeared to be moderately affected by their child's disorder. Financial, social, personal, mastery parameters and total impact values were 52% (27-77%), 65% (46-114%), 49% (31-67%), 51% (28-74%) and 56% (40-72%), respectively. Root involvement and the age of the children did not make a statistically significant difference in the level of impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detailed knowledge of the impact of OBPP on families might provide a chance to support affected families in coping with the situation and decrease their burden in providing care for the children. It is crucial to evaluate and provide social support to parents of children with OBPP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. tuzun@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Tüzün
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: Deran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oskay
authors.forename: Burcu Semin
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Akel
authors.forename: Ciğdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oksüz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010246:Paralysis, Obstetric / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires