Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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Unmet health needs among young adults with cerebral palsy in Ireland: a cross-sectional study

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posted on 2023-12-06, 16:55 authored by Jennifer RyanJennifer Ryan, Michael Walsh, Mary Owens, Michael Bryne, Thilo Kroll, Owen Hensey, Claire Kerr, Meriel Norris, Aisling WalshAisling Walsh, Grace Lavelle, Jennifer FortuneJennifer Fortune
Data describing the unmet health needs of young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) may support the development of appropriate health services. This study aimed to describe unmet health needs among young adults with CP in Ireland and examine if these differed between young adults who were and were not yet discharged from children’s services. In this cross-sectional study, young adults with CP aged 16–22 years completed a questionnaire assessing unmet health needs. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between discharge status and unmet health needs. Seventy-five young adults (mean age 18.4 yr; 41% female; 60% in GMFCS levels I-III) were included in the study. Forty (53%) had been discharged from children’s services. Unmet health need, as a proportion of those with needs, was highest for speech (0.64), followed by epilepsy (0.50) and equipment, mobility, control of movement and bone or joint problems (0.39 or 0.38). After adjusting for ambulatory status, unmet health needs did not differ according to discharge status. The proportion of young adults with unmet health needs highlights the importance of taking a life-course approach to CP and providing appropriate services to people with CP regardless of age.

Funding

Health Research Board and the Central Remedial Clinic (APA-2019-004)

History

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Zenodo at http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6968034

Comments

The original article is available at https://www.mdpi.com/

Published Citation

Ryan JM, et al. Unmet health needs among young adults with cerebral palsy in Ireland: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Med. 2022;11(16):4847.

Publication Date

18 August 2022

PubMed ID

36013083

Department/Unit

  • Public Health and Epidemiology
  • School of Population Health

Research Area

  • Population Health and Health Services

Publisher

MDPI AG

Version

  • Published Version (Version of Record)