Impact of Long-term Use of Adaptive Seating Device among Children with Cerebral Palsy and their Families in Mumbai, India:  A feasibility study

Swati Ashok Kurne; Anita Dipak Gupta

doi:10.5463/dcid.v27i3.465

Impact of Long-term Use of Adaptive Seating Device among Children with Cerebral Palsy and their Families in Mumbai, India: A feasibility study

Authors

Swati Ashok Kurne All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai
Anita Dipak Gupta All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5463/dcid.v27i3.465

Keywords:

FIATS, parents’ perceptions, GMFCS

Abstract

Purpose: There is evidence that adaptive seating devices can play a major role in the positioning and support of children with cerebral palsy (CP), and be of great benefit to them and their families. This study aims to provide preliminary information on the impact of long-term use of seating devices on the functional life of children with cerebral palsy.

Method: Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale (FIATS) was used to assess the impact of the chair among children with cerebral palsy. The study participants consisted of 15 parents (9 mothers and 6 fathers) of young children (12 males and 3 females) with cerebral palsy. On the basis of Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS), 1 child at level III ,7 children at level IV, and 7 children at level V were included in the study. Mean age of the children was 5 years, and the mean duration of use of adaptive seating was 13 months.

Results: It was found that the uninterrupted use of adaptive seating devices had an overall positive effect on the lives of families of children with GMFCS levels III, IV and V as measured by FIATS. The greatest benefits were in relation to the children’s social interactions, the acceptance of assistive technology by parents, feeling of contentment among children, and the degree of autonomy over their own activities and in the performance of these activities independently.

Conclusions: From the perspective of parents, FIATS is a measurement instrument that focusses on domains that give quantitative descriptions of a wide range of seating devices when used in a child’s home environment. Use of FIATS helps therapists to take a judicious approach regarding long-term use of seating devices. Parents’ perceptions can help in this process.

Author Biographies

Swati Ashok Kurne, All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai

Swati Ashok Kurne received her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy in 2007 from Mumbai University and Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy in 2004 from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in Nashik. She works as an Occupational Therapist at All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Mumbai. Over her career, Swati has been afforded the opportunity to work with different client groups and has built a diverse client set. She has experience with seating devices, pediatrics and adult neurorehabilitation. Her passion is working with people to help them return to function in day to day activities by helping to identify and overcome barriers. Her major research interests include studying visual perceptual skills following brain lesion and clinical applicability of TVPS (Test of visual perceptual skills) in brain lesion.

Anita Dipak Gupta, All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai

Gupta is a lecturer in Occupational Therapy at AIIPMR, Mumbai. She received her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1995 from Mumbai University and Bachelor's in Occupational Therapy in 1985 from Nagpur University, India. She has been a Post Graudate Teacher and guide for Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. She was deputed as Jr. Scientific Officer on a project on Myoelectric prosthesis for below amputees. She has presented scientific papers and published research articles on various topics like Disabled Drivers Modifications, Spastic hand, Myoelectric Prosthesis etc.

Her recent publication is on Comparision of below-elbow cock up splint with elbow gutter versus above elbow cock up splint.

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Published

2016-11-14

How to Cite

Kurne SA, Gupta AD. Impact of Long-term Use of Adaptive Seating Device among Children with Cerebral Palsy and their Families in Mumbai, India: A feasibility study. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2016 Nov. 14 [cited 2024 Sep. 20];27(3):118-31. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/235

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Issue

Vol. 27 No. 3 (2016): Autumn 2016

Section

Brief reports

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DCIDJ has been moved from Liliane Foundation to the University of Gondar

July 31, 2023

We are pleased to inform you that the Disability, CBR, and Inclusive Development Journal (DCIDJ) has moved from the Liliane Foundation (https://dcidj.org) to the University of Gondar (https://dcidj.uog.edu.et). The University of Gondar is the only university that owns the CBR Program in Ethiopia. The CBR program was established in 2005 in partnership with Light for the World and Save the Children to alleviate various problems faced by persons with disabilities due to lack of access to rehabilitation services and community awareness. The University of Gondar (Ethiopia) and Queen’s University (Canada), supported by the Mastercard Foundation, have developed a 10-year partnership to advance inclusive higher education for young people with disabilities, develop new occupational therapy programs, and advance research for inclusive education and community-based rehabilitation in Africa. Hence, the University of Gondar is an excellent fit to manage the journal as it has extensive experience in the field of disability, CBR, and inclusive development.

The DCIDJ is an online journal with a 33-year-old history of publishing research in the broad field of rehabilitation and disability inclusion. It is an open-access journal that aims to provide a platform for high-quality and innovative research that includes a diverse range of perspectives, including academics, researchers, scholars, and postgraduate students. The journal covers topics such as disability rights, inclusive education, community-based rehabilitation, disability and development, and more. The journal is a quarterly publication that will be available online in four issues per year. We would like to acknowledge the good relationship with the Liliane Foundation and Enablement who chose the University of Gondar as a sustainable base as this university is one of the leading universities in Ethiopia in the field of disability, development, and rehabilitation. This is a positive step towards enhancing the dissemination and impact of research and knowledge in the CBR/CBID community.