Understanding the use and benefits of assistive devices among young children with cerebral palsy and their families in Norway: a cross-sectional population-based registry study

Figures & data

Table 1. Child characteristics, n = 130.

Characteristics	Using ADs (n = 78)	Not using ADs (n = 52)	Sig.
	n (%)	n (%)
Child gender			0.469^a
Female	32 (41.0)	25 (48.1)
Male	46 (59.0)	26 (50.0)
Not specified		1 (1.9)
Age at last assessment (months)			0.827^b
Mean (SD)	50.13 (13.8)	49.58 (14.5)
Age distribution (months)			0.279^c
12–23	2 (2.6)	1 (1.9)
24–35	7 (9.0)	11 (21.2)
36–47	28 (35.9)	11 (21.2)
48–59	19 (24.4)	15 (28.8)
60–81	22 (28.1)	14 (26.9)
CP subtypes			<0.001^c
Spastic unilateral	26 (33.3)	41 (78.8)
Spastic bilateral	45 (57.7)	10 (19.3)
Dyskinetic and ataxic	6 (7.7)	1 (1.9)
Not classified	1 (1.3)
GMFCS levels			<0.001^c
I	19 (24.4)	42 (80.8)
II	16 (20.5)	7 (13.5)
III	15 (19.2)	2 (3.8)
IV	18 (23.1)	0 (0)
V	9 (11.5)	0 (0)
Not classified	1 (1.3)	1 (1.9)
MACS levels			<0.001^c
I	14 (17.9)	15 (28.8)
II	32 (41.0)	34 (65.5)
III	16 (20.5)	2 (3.8)
IV	8 (10.3)	0 (0)
V	8 (10.3)	0 (0)
Not classified	0 (0)	1 (1.9)

^aChi-square test, ^bT-test, ^cFisher’s Exact test.

Table 2. Parent and family characteristics, n = 130.

Characteristics	Using ADs (n = 78)	Not using ADs (n = 52)
	n (%)	n (%)
Mother’s country of origin
Norway	70 (89.8)	42 (80.8)
Other countries	8 (10.2)	6 (11.5)
Not answered	0 (0)	4 (7.7)
Father’s country of origin
Norway	68 (87.2)	35 (67.3)
Other countries	9 (11.5)	12 (23.1)
Not answered	1 (1.3)	5 (9.6)
Maternal education
≤12 years	18 (23.1)	16 (30.8)
>12 years	58 (74.3)	32 (61.5)
Not answered	2 (2.6)	4 (7.7)
Paternal education
≤ 12 years	28 (35.9)	21 (40.4)
>12 years	45 (57.7)	24 (46.1)
Not answered	5 (6.4)	7 (13.5)
Maternal employment
Full time (≥100%)	28 (35.9)	28 (53.9)
Part-time (≥50%)	31 (39.6)	9 (17.3)
Part-time (<50%)/not employed	17 (21.9)	6 (11.5)
Not answered	2 (2.6)	9 (17.3)
Paternal employment
Full time (≥100%)	66 (84.6)	40 (77.0)
Part-time (≥50%)	3 (3.8)	2 (3.8)
Part-time (<50%)/not employed	5 (6.4)	2 (3.8)
Not answered	4 (5.2)	8 (15.4)
Financial concerns
Yes	13 (16.6)	3 (5.8)
No	64 (82.1)	45 (86.5)
Not answered	1 (1.3)	4 (7.7)
Housing concerns
Yes	29 (37.2)	3 (5.8)
No	48 (61.5)	45 (86.5)
Not answered	1 (1.3)	4 (7.7)

Table 3. Number of children using/not using the different types of ADs, n = 130.

	Using ADs	Not using ADs
Type and number of ADs in use	n (%)	n (%)
Positioning (n = 95)
Adapted chair/seating system	54 (41.5)	76 (58.5)
Standing frame	41 (31.5)	89 (68.5)
Mobility (n = 150)
Adapted bicycle	44 (33.8)	86 (66.2)
Walking aid	34 (26.2)	96 (73.8)
Special need pushchair	32 (24.6)	98 (75.4)
Manual wheelchair	27 (20.8)	103 (79.2)
Powered mobility device	13 (10.0)	117 (90.0)
Self-care (n = 48)
Bathing aid	19 (14.6)	111 (85.4)
Toileting aid	18 (13.8)	112 (86.2)
Adapted bed	7 (5.4)	123 (94.6)
Eating utensil	4 (3.1)	126 (96.9)
Training, stimulation and play (n = 16)
Training device	10 (7.7)	120 (92.3)
Device for play/stimulation	6 (4.6)	124 (95.4)
Environmental modifications (n = 21)
Ramp	7 (5.4)	123 (94.6)
Automatic door opener	6 (4.6)	124 (95.4)
Lifting aid or hoist	5 (3.8)	125 (96.2)
Threshold eliminator	3 (2.3)	127 (97.7)

Table 4. Purposes of ADs usage, n = 78.

	Prevent secondary impairments	Support performance of activities	Enhance participation in daily activities	Ease daily care	Do not know
Number of children using the ADs	n	n	n	n	n
Positioning
Adapted chair/seating system (n = 54)	33	33	31	22	1
Standing frame (n = 41)	31	30	13	3	0
Mobility
Adapted bicycle (n = 44)	4	14	40	6	1
Walking aid (n = 34)	10	25	22	6	2
Special need pushchair (n = 32)	7	5	21	23	0
Manual wheelchair (n = 27)	3	10	20	11	3
Powered mobility device (n = 13)	1	2	12	4	0
Self-care
Bathing aid (n = 19)	1	4	6	14	1
Toileting aid (n = 18)	0	10	1	13	0
Adapted bed (n = 7)	2	3	0	6	0
Eating utensil (n = 4)	0	3	1	2	1
Training, stimulation and play
Training device (n = 10)	2	8	3	2	1
Device for play/stimulation (n = 6)	0	4	5	0	1
Environmental modifications
Ramp (n = 7)	0	2	0	3	2
Automatic door opener (n = 6)	0	2	0	4	1
Lifting aid or hoist (n = 5)	0	0	1	5	0
Threshold eliminator (n = 3)	0	0	1	3	0

Table 5. Environments in which ADs are used.

	Home	Kindergarten/school	Leisure activities	Other arenas
Number of children using the ADs	n	n	n	n
Positioning
Adapted chair/seating system (n = 54)	51	53	1	7
Standing frame (n = 41)	34	38	1	6
Mobility
Adapted bicycle (n = 44)	37	33	2	2
Walking aid (n = 34)	25	32	7	6
Special need pushchair (n = 32)	25	25	3	14
Manual wheelchair (n = 27)	18	21	11	13
Powered mobility device (n = 13)	6	11	1	5
Self-care
Bathing aid (n = 19)	19	4	1	2
Toileting aid (n = 18)	17	15	0	2
Adapted bed (n = 7)	7	2	0	2
Eating utensil (n = 4)	4	3	0	0
Training, stimulation and play
Training device (n = 10)	7	9	0	0
Device for play/stimulation (n = 6)	5	6	0	0
Environmental modifications
Ramp (n = 7)	1	6	0	0
Automatic door opener (n = 6)	3	3	0	0
Lifting aid or hoist (n = 5)	3	3	0	1
Threshold eliminator (n = 3)	3	2	1	0

Table 6. Frequency of use of ADs.

	<1-2/week	3-4/week	5-7/week	Several times daily	Do not know
Number of children using the ADs	n	n	n	n	n
Positioning
Adapted chair/seating system (n = 54)	1	1	2	50	0
Standing frame (n = 41)	2	10	14	15	0
Mobility
Adapted bicycle (n = 44)	20	7	7	6	4
Walking aid (n = 34)	4	6	11	12	1
Special need pushchair (n = 32)	7	7	9	8	1
Manual wheelchair (n = 27)	6	4	4	11	2
Powered mobility device (n = 13)	4	4	1	3	1
Self-care
Bathing aid (n = 19)	6	7	1	5	0
Toileting aid (n = 18)	0	1	3	14	0
Adapted bed (n = 7)	0	0	0	7	0
Eating utensil (n = 4)	0	0	0	4	0
Training, stimulation and play
Training device (n = 10)	1	5	1	3	0
Device for play/stimulation (n = 6)	0	0	2	4	0
Environmental modifications
Ramp (n = 7)	0	0	1	4	2
Automatic door opener (n = 6)	0	0	0	6	0
Lifting aid or hoist (n = 5)	0	1	0	3	1
Threshold eliminator (n = 3)	0	0	0	3	0

Table 7. Perceived benefits of use of ADs.

	Small/some benefits	Large/very large benefits	Unsure benefits
Number of children using the ADs	n	n	n
Positioning
Adapted chair/seating system (n = 54)	3	50	1
Standing frame (n = 41)	7	30	4
Mobility
Adapted bicycle (n = 44)	6	36	2
Walking aid (n = 34)	7	24	3
Special need pushchair (n = 32)	6	24	2
Manual wheelchair (n = 27)	3	21	3
Powered mobility device (n = 13)	3	7	3
Self-care
Bathing aid (n = 19)	1	18	0
Toileting aid (n = 18)	3	15	0
Adapted bed (n = 7)	0	7	0
Eating utensil (n = 4)	0	3	1
Training, stimulation and play
Training device (n = 10)	3	6	1
Device for play/stimulation (n = 6)	1	5	0
Environmental modifications
Ramp (n = 7)	0	7	0
Automatic door opener (n = 6)	0	6	0
Lifting aid or hoist (n = 5)	2	2	1
Threshold eliminator (n = 3)	0	3	0

Table 8. Associations between child, parent and family characteristics and the total use of ADs, n = 130.

Independent variables	B	Beta	p Value	95% CI
Child characteristics
GMFCS level	2.09	0.53	<0.001	1.50, 2.69
MACS level	0.66	0.13	0.072	−0.06, 1.38
Age	0.52	0.11	0.065	−0.03, 1.08
Parent characteristics
Maternal education	0.46	0.07	0.245	−0.32, 1.25
Maternal employment	0.10	0.02	0.696	−0.39, 0.58
Family situation
Financial concerns	0.56	0.06	0.347	−0.61, 1.73
Housing concerns	1.85	0.25	<0.001	0.86, 2.83

Adjusted R² = 0.651, overall model F-test, p = 0.000.