Researchers at CanCHild and McGill University Health Centre are hoping to identify what determines the quality of life and participation for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

By evaluating the relationship between intrinsic biomedical characteristics and extrinsic environmental attributes, researchers hope to assist health professionals in promoting supportive environments and interventions, to enable these children to participate more fully.

The United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation has awarded $99,166 (U.S. funds) for the two-year “Determinants of Life Quality in Children with Cerebral Palsy” study.

CanChild's co-directors, Mary Law and Peter Rosenbaum are investigators on the study headed by Annette Majnemer, associate professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research is located in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University.

Rehabilitation efforts for children with CP are often focused on minimizing impairments and optimizing function and level of independence in everyday activities, said Majnemer. However, the impact of these interventions on the overall health and well being of children with CP is poorly understood.

It is often presumed that severity of disability is a key determinant of quality of life and participation in leisure activities,” she said. “However, it is also conceivable that other contextual factors such as family coping, supportive environments and child's personality traits play important roles in influencing life quality.”

Majnemer said a better understanding of factors that may promote a good life quality may guide rehabilitation specialists to more effectively meet the needs and desires of children with disabilities and their families.