Pediatric Bobath Concept in management of children with cerebral palsy: view of Turkish Bobath therapists

Abstract

Purpose: Pediatric Bobath Concept (PBC) is a family-child centered holistic concept applied interdisciplinary to support the functional skills of children with cerebral palsy. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of PBC on children, parents, and themselves from the perspective of Bobath therapists in Turkey. Methods: In this observational study, 104 (69.2% female) Bobath therapists with a mean age of 37.9+6.1 years participated. The Pediatric-Bobath Impact Questionnaire (P-BIQ) was developed by the Delphi method. Content validity (Lawshe's Content Validity Index-CVI) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass correlation coefficient -ICC) were examined. The relationships between the rates of change in children, parents, and therapists were analyzed using the Chi Square (χ2) test and the effect sizes of the relationships were analyzed according to Cramer's V values. Results: According to the P-BIQ (CVI=0.836, ICC >0.737), at least 74% of therapists reported that the PBC positively affected children (compliance with therapy and home program, body structure and function, activity and participation, environmental adaptations), parents (compliance with therapy and home program) and themselves (sense of professional competence and motivation). Compliance of the child, parent, and therapist was positively associated with the child's activity and participation levels and environmental adaptation (p