Environmental needs and facilitators available for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: adaptation and validation of the European Child Environment Questionnaire (ECEQ) Spanish version

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study is to present the process of translating, adapting and validating the European Child Environment Questionnaire (ECEQ) in the Spanish context. Method: The participants were 200 parents of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 8–18 years, from seven regions in Spain. The adaptation of the ECEQ original version was carried out through the translation and back translation into Spanish. Construct validity was assessed by Factor analysis, Rasch model, and analysing group differences in need and availability of environmental features (EFs) according to level GMFCS. Results: We obtained a high rate of parental response. The ECEQ Spanish version contains 59 items and we identified four domains: Products and technology – home, school and community – services, systems and policies, support and relations, and Attitudes. Seventeen items were dropped as they did not fit well into plausible domains. Construct validity in terms of distinguishing between groups with expected for both need and availability. Conclusion: The ECEQ Spanish version was more appropriate to assess the needs of and access to EFs in the following domains: Products and technology and services, systems and policies, and it proved less appropriate for the support and relations, and attitudes domains.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Identification of barriers and environmental facilitators are key aspects to ensure the participation of children and adolescents with CP.

• The ECEQ is a useful tool for identifying needs and availability of the environmental features for children and adolescents with CP in Spain.

• This tool contains 59 items that are consistent with ICF framework.

• The Spanish version of ECEQ provides valuable information, which could be helpful to guide public services and organization services in order to optimize participation of children and adolescents with CP.

• European Child Environment Questionnaire
• Spain
• validity