Caregiver Knowledge and Preferences for Gross Motor Function Information in Cerebral Palsy
The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) classifies children with CP based on five levels of gross motor function. GMFCS was designed to help families understand a child’s current and future abilities. The GMFCS is valid, reliable and stable.
The purpose of this study was to determine caregivers' knowledge and preferences for GMFCS. There were 303 caregivers participating in this study.
The result of the study showed that 55% of the caregivers did not know about their child’s GMFCS level before participating in the survey. It also showed that clinicians are not using GMFCS and gross motor curves to share current and prognosis information with families about gross motor development of their child with CP.
“Results may inform the development of caregiver decision aides and clinician training to improve communication about difficult prognostic information across multiple episodes of care.”
