ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES AND STABILITY OF GROSS MOTOR FUNCTION CLASSIFICATION OF BRAZILIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

• Grant number: 25/01047-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina de Campos
• Grantee: Rayane Félix Lôbo Monteiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Contextualization: Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have non-progressive motor impairments that can change over time and according to their functional classification, leading to varied healthcare needs. Despite the recognized need for multidisciplinary care, there is a scarcity of studies describing access to services and longitudinal changes in motor performance among Brazilian children and adolescents with CP. Objective: To investigate access to healthcare services and its determinants, as well as the stability of gross motor function classifications in Brazilian children and adolescents with CP. Methods: This will be a multicenter, cross-sectional study with a descriptive approach (Objective 1) and a multicenter, longitudinal, prospective cohort study (Objective 2). Children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years with a CP diagnosis will be recruited, and their caregivers will answer instruments such as the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS), and a contextual factors questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: For the analysis of Objective 1, barriers to accessing healthcare services and rehabilitation products and technologies will be quantified. Logistic regression models will be developed to identify predictive factors. For Objective 2, the distribution of FMS and GMFCS levels will be described using percentages, and the stability of the classification systems will be analyzed with Cochran's Q test. Expected Results: This study aims to present original data, not previously described, regarding the determinants of access to healthcare services and the stability of gross motor function classifications in Brazilian children and adolescents with CP. The study is expected to contribute to public health by providing insights to update, develop, and structure public policies directed at individuals with CP. (AU)