Serebral Paralizili Çocuklarda Aktivitelere Katılımın Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the children with cerebral palsy between the ages 8-12 years with their healthy counterparts, studying their activity participation and activity preferences and examining the effects of these parameters on their quality of life. For the research group; Cerebral Palsy diagnosed 30 children and for the control group; 60 healthy children participated in the study. As assessment scales CAPE (Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment) for activity participation, PAC (Preferences for Activity of Children) for activity preferences and Kid-KINDL for quality of life has been used. At the end of the evaluation; It has been observed that the children with CP compared to the healthy children has participated in less number of activities, less frequently and more home based (p<0,05). When compared with `with whom? points the two groups showed no difference, neither they were very lonely or very social (p>0,05). The children with CP showed higher points on `enjoyment? levels in total activity participation compared to the healthy children (p<0,05). When activity preferences where compared between groups recreational, physical, skill based and self improvement activities showed no difference (p>0,05), but in terms of social activity children with CP have showed more interest in choosing social activities compared to their healthy counterparts (p<0,05). It has been observed that children with CP chose mostly the social activities and the least physical activities, the healthy children mostly chose recreational activities and least the skill based activities. Children with CP and the healthy children when compared on quality of life showed that psychological well-being, self respect and school values showed no difference (p>0,05). But the children with CP showed lower points on physical well-being, family and friendship domains in quality of life (p<0,05). When the relationship between total activity participation and quality of life was observed; `diversity?, `intensity?, `with whom? and `where? values didn?t show a meaningful relationship with quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. Total activity participation showed meaningful relationship between only enjoyment level and quality of life. It has been observed that with the increasing level of enjoyment the quality of life has also increased in children with CP (r=0,370). In healthy children there has been no meaningful relationship observed between total activity participation and quality of life. When looked at the relationship between the activity preferences and quality of life the children with CP showed higher quality of life when the points of the total activity preferences and social activity preferences increased (r=0,536). Enjoyment and social activities showed positive effects on the quality of life on children with CP. In the light of these results in respect to occupational therapists the importance of the children?s activity preferences and activity participation has been observed. It is being thought that children who are encouraged by occupational therapists towards appropriate activities seem to have positive effects on their social participations and quality of life. For this reason occupational therapists should evaluate child, environment and the activities in detail and should plan appropriate interventions under the light of these effecting factors.