G477(P)\u2005A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of interventions to improve psychological wellbeing in the parents of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) face unique demands and challenges, with potential negative impact on psychological wellbeing and consequences for both caregiver and child. Timely support could improve parental wellbeing. Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving the psychological wellbeing of caregivers of children with CP. Methods/design Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of interventions aiming to improve the psychological well-being of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. Databases (including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane) were searched for relevant English language publications between January 1990 and December 2017. Risk of bias was assessed including randomization, allocation concealment, incomplete outcome data and selective outcome reporting. Results We included 11 studies (1181 participants, 1/3 with CP). Five studies investigated a positive parenting intervention; the other 6 studies covered a range of other interventions. Meta-analysis of 6 studies (550 participants) showed that interventions significantly improved parental wellbeing (standardized mean difference −0.40, 95%\u2009CI −0.58 to −0.23, z=4.50, p<0.001). Discussion Limitations include small study sizes, variability in outcome measures and interventions, and heterogeneity in the populations studied; however, our results indicate that interventions can improve the wellbeing of parents of children with CP and should be made available.