Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

• Nasrin Jalili ¹
• Mehdi Rassafiani ²
• Hamid Dalvand ³
• Hojjat Allah Haghgoo ⁴
• Marjan Farzi ⁵

¹ Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

² Associate Professor, Academic Member, Pediatrics Neurorehabilitation Research Center, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ PhD Student, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Assistant Professor, Academic Member, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁵ Department of Psychometric, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: It is common for parents with cerebral palsy children to expose further stress and affect all aspects of their quality of life. This study was carried out in order to determine the effectiveness of handling training program on the stress and quality of life of mothers with children with cerebral palsy. Materials and Methods: This control trial study was performed with two groups of experimental (n = 29) and control (n = 25) were selected by randomized convenience sampling method. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaire, SF-36 quality of life, the Resource and Stress Questionnaires. All data collected before and after three months of intervention. Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS, version 16. Results: The mother’s mean age in control and intervention groups were 32.8 (SD = 4.9) and 35.3 (SD = 4.4) years respectively. Also, children’s mean age in control and intervention groups were 6.2 (SD = 2.1) and 7 (SD = 2.8) years. There was a significant difference in quality of life after intervention between two groups (P < 0.05). However, difference was not significant in two dimensions of physical functioning and Emotional health (P > 0.05). Also, there was a statistically significant difference between all dimensions of stress measures in two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to these findings, handling training program reduced stress and enhanced the quality of life of mothers with children with cerebral palsy in this study. Keywords: Quality of life, Stress, Cerebral palsy, Handling training, Caregivers