Elaine Meehan

Temporal trends in cerebral palsy by impairment severity and birth gestation

Our aim was to build on previous research indicating that rates of cerebral palsy (CP) in the Australian state of Victoria are declining, and examine whether severity of impairments is also decreasing.

A special supplement: findings from the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register, birth years 1993 to 2006

To briefly outline the strengths and limitations of cerebral palsy (CP) registers, and to report on findings of the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register (ACPR) pertaining to a population cohort of children with CP.

An Australian population study of factors associated with MRI patterns in cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns in a large population sample of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to examine associations between MRI patterns, and antenatal and perinatal variables.

Hospital admissions in children with cerebral palsy: a data linkage study

The overall aim was to investigate the feasibility and utility of linking a cerebral palsy (CP) register to an administrative data set for health services research purposes. We sought to compare CP hospital admissions to general childhood population admissions, and identify factors associated with type and frequency of admissions in a CP cohort.

Tertiary paediatric hospital admissions in children and young people with cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND Many previous studies that have investigated hospital admissions in children and young people with cerebral palsy lack information on cerebral palsy severity and complexity. Consequently, little is known about factors associated with the frequency and type of hospital admissions in this population. This study used hospital admission data available for all children and young people known to a population-based cerebral palsy register to describe the patterns of use of tertiary paediatric hospital services over a 5-year period. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort analysis of routinely collected admission data from the two tertiary paediatric hospitals in the Australian state of Victoria. Data on admissions of individuals born between 1993 and 2008 registered on the Victorian Cerebral Palsy Register were analysed (n = 2183). RESULTS Between 2008 and 2012, 53% of the cohort (n = 1160) had at least one same-day admission, and 46% (n = 996) had one or more multi-day admissions. Those with a moderate to severe motor impairment and those with a co-diagnosis of epilepsy had more admissions, and for multi-day admissions, longer lengths of stay, P < 0.05. Across all severity levels, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases were the most frequently reported reasons for medical and surgical admissions, respectively. All-cause readmission rates for urgent multi-day stays within 7, 30 and 365 days of an index admission were 10%, 23% and 63%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The reasons for hospital admissions reported here reflect the range of comorbidities experienced by children and young people with cerebral palsy. This study highlights priority areas for prevention, early diagnosis and medical management in this group. Improved primary and secondary prevention measures may decrease non-elective hospital admissions and readmissions in this group and reduce paediatric inpatient resource use and healthcare expenditure attributable to cerebral palsy.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme: a time for real change in Australia

In Australia, the supports and services for persons with disabilities have long been underfunded and fragmented. Often, individuals did not receive the services they needed, but rather the services they were entitled to based on how or when they acquired their disability. As a result, there was an increasing reliance on ageing carers, a lack of permanent and respite accommodation, and reduced employment and educational opportunities. Individuals with disabilities and their families were often isolated and financially disadvantaged. In March 2013, legislation was passed in Australia to establish a National Disability Insurance Scheme, a radical new way of funding disability services. No longer would funding be directed to agencies, but rather to individuals who would make their own plan and select their preferred services and service providers, giving them more control over the services and supports they receive. The hope is that this change from a welfare‐driven to an insurance‐based model will improve equity of service delivery, levels of participation, and overall quality of life among Australians with disabilities and their families.

Biological sex and the risk of cerebral palsy in Victoria, Australia

Males typically outnumber females in cerebral palsy (CP) cohorts. To better understand this ‘male disadvantage’ and provide insight into causal pathways to CP, this study used 1983 to 2009 Australian CP and population birth cohorts to identify associations and trends with respect to biological sex and CP.

Tertiary paediatric emergency department use in children and young people with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of tertiary paediatric emergency department (ED) use in children and young people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Intellectual disability in cerebral palsy: a population‐based retrospective study

A population‐based observational study design was used to describe the epidemiology of intellectual disability in cerebral palsy (CP) in terms of clinical and neuroimaging associations, and to report the impact of intellectual disability on utilization of health services and length of survival.

Comparing emergency department presentations among children with cerebral palsy with general childhood presentations: a data linkage study

The aims of this study were to estimate the proportion of emergency department presentations attributable to children with cerebral palsy (CP), investigate the frequency of emergency department presentations in a CP cohort, and compare emergency department presentations among children with CP with those of other children.