title: Impact of an educational program on the feeding of neurologically impaired children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the impact of an educative program focused on aspects related to feeding developed with a group of caregivers of children with chronic non-progressive encephalopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional comparative study conducted with 30 children diagnosed with chronic non-progressive encephalopathy and their caregivers with the use of a questionnaire and video recordings of a meal conducted by the main caregiver. In order to verify the impact of an educational program in the knowledge and conduct of caregivers, patients were divided into two groups: study--consisting of caregivers submitted to a questionnaire and a video recording before and after the educational program; control--group in which caregivers underwent the procedures in two occasions, but without access to the educational program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Around 93.33% of caregivers were females, most had low educational level, and only 10% had a professional activity. Previous knowledge of caregivers concerning feeding was restricted, with 66% of caregivers not knowing what aspiration was, 60% being unfamiliar with the complications associated with such occurrence, and 86.66% stating that there is no relation between voice and swallowing. During feeding, only 26.66% of the caregivers used verbal commands related to feeding, and 50% did not realize the difficulties presented by their children. We observed a difference with regard to knowledge and conduct in the study group only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The educational program had a positive impact on the knowledge and conduct of caregivers concerning the feeding of their children with chronic non-progressive encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Ciências da Saúde de Alagoas, MaceióALBrazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Cajaseiras de
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São PauloSPBrazil.
authors.forename: Brasília Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Chiari
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São PauloSPBrazil.
authors.forename: Maria Inês Rebelo
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D001938:Brazil; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires