Grant: Operating Grant

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability of childhood, affecting approximately 50-60 thousand Canadians. Pediatric professional societies and Canadian policies strongly endorse early identification of children with developmental disabilities, so that rehabilitation interventions and family support may begin without delay. Early detection of CP by primary care providers is problematic, and specific screening tools for cerebral palsy are lacking. Furthermore, primary care physicians do not typically refer these children to rehabilitation specialists for early interventions at the same time they are referring the child to medical specialists for diagnostic determination, further delaying timely therapeutic interventions. The PROMPT study proposes to address this gap in knowledge. First, we will identify the clinical attributes that are evident early in life that should prompt referral to specialists for diagnosis and management. This will be achieved by review of existing evidence and by consensus methods involving specialists in the field. Then a team of health professionals, researchers and parents will develop user-friendly and informative tools for use by community-based primary care providers that will enhance their ability to identify cerebral palsy as early as possible and appropriately refer these young children to medical specialists and also to rehabilitation services. This study aims to improve detection of cerebral palsy early in life, so that children may benefit from early intensive therapeutic interventions that will optimize brain plasticity and functional potential, and parents may be provided with timely anticipatory guidance and resources that will enhance adaptive coping and caregiver health.