Determination of Awareness Levels of Caregivers for Children with Disabilities About Their Children's Disease, Physiotherapy, and Sports Activities

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the awareness levels of caregivers of disabled children about their child's illness, physiotherapy, and sports activities. Materials and Methods: Caregivers (n=65) of children with a mean age of 6,50±5,29 diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), spina bifida (SD), Down syndrome (DS), and muscular dystrophy (MD) were included in the study. The ‘Disease, Physiotherapy, and Sports Awareness Questionnaire’ consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions specific to disease groups was applied. Results: Of the caregivers (n=65) with a mean age of 34.43±10.16 who participated in the study (83% mothers, 4.6% fathers, 4.6% siblings, and 7.7% others). The definition of the disease was made correctly at 92.9% in the DS, 63.6% in the CP, 85.7% in the SB, and 72.7% in the MD group. Sensory problems in SB were known at a rate of 26.7%. 85.7% of the DS, 62.5% of the CP, 40% of the SB, and 45.5% of the MD group had accurate information in terms of physiotherapy content. There was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05) when caregivers’ responses about participation in sports activities were compared according to disability groups. Of caregivers for children with DS, 92.9%, 75% of CP, 58.3% of MD, and 92.9% of SB stated that their children could do sports. Conclusions: All caregivers thought that sports would positively affect their children's general well-being, motivation, and increase in physical capacity. Although it was identified that the disease awareness levels of caregivers for children with disabilities and their ideas about sports activities were at a good level.

Keywords

• Children with disabilities
• Caregiver
• Physiotherapy
• Sports
• Awareness

Engelli Çocuklara Bakımverenlerin, Çocuklarının Hastalığı, Fizyoterapi ve Spor Aktiviteleri Hakkındaki Farkındalık Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı engelli çocukların bakımverenlerinin, çocuklarının hastalığı, fizyoterapi ve spor aktiviteleri hakkındaki farkındalık düzeylerini belirlemekti. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya yaş ortalaması 6,50±5,29 olan, Serebral Palsi (SP), Spina Bifida (SB), Down Sendromu (DS), Musküler Distrofi (MD) tanılı çocukların bakımverenleri (n= 65) dahil edildi. Bakımverenlere araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan hastalık gruplarına özgü, çoktan seçmeli 12 sorudan oluşan ‘Hastalık, Fizyoterapi ve Spor Farkındalık Anketi’ yapıldı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan yaş ortalaması 34,43±10,16 olan bakımverenlerin (n=65) %83’ü anne, %4,6’sı baba, %4,6’sı kardeş, %7,7’si ise diğer kişilerden oluştu. Hastalık tanımının DS’lu grupta %92,9, SP’li grupta % 63,6, SB’da %85,7, MD’de %72,7 oranında doğru yapıldığı bulundu. SB’da duyu problemlerinin ise %26,7 oranında bilindiği saptandı. Fizyoterapi içeriği açısından DS’lu grupta %85,7, SP’de %62,5, SB’da %40, MD’de %45,5 oranında doğru bilgiye sahip olunduğu saptandı. Bakımverenlerin engel gruplarına göre spor katılımı yapabilme yanıtları karşılaştırıldığında gruplar arasında anlamlı fark bulunmadı (p>0,05). DS’lu çocukların bakımverenlerin %92,9‘unun, SP’lilerin %75’i, MD’lerin %58,3’ü, SB’lıların %92,9’u çocuklarının spor yapabileceğini ifade etti. Sonuç: Tüm bakımverenlerin sporun çocuklarının genel iyilik hali, motivasyon ve fiziksel kapasite artışı açısından olumlu etkileneceğini düşündüğü bulundu. Engelli çocukların bakımverenlerinin hastalık farkındalık düzeylerinin ve spor aktiviteleri ile ilgili fikirlerinin iyi düzeyde olduğu fakat yeterli olmadığı saptansa da, fizyoterapi süreci hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerinin arttırılması gerektiği görüşüne varıldı.

Keywords

• Engelli çocuk
• Bakımveren
• Fizyoterapi
• Spor
• Farkındalık

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