Focus on Function
Young children with cerebral palsy and other developmental motor delays commonly receive physical and occupational therapy to help development and independence in movement, self-care and play activities. The Focus on Function Study will compare two treatment approaches ("child-focused" and "context-focused") that are currently being used for children with cerebral palsy and other developmental and motor delays. Both treatments aim to improve a child's function. They may both lead to improved function but we do not know this without studying them side by side.
The two approaches being compared are:
- Improving function by working with the child to improve his/her skills and abilities ("child-focused" approach)
- Improving function by changing/adapting the task and/or environment around the child to improve his/her skills and abilities ("context-focused" approach)
The study is led by researchers at McMaster University's CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, the University of Alberta, and the Calgary Health Region. One hundred and thirty children (ages 1 to 6) and their families from across Ontario and Alberta have been involved in the study. Ninety-eight occupational and physical therapists from across Ontario and Alberta were trained to carry out the therapies for the study.
This is the largest study of its kind in North America. The findings have the potential to significantly impact the services provided to children in the future.
Research Team
- Mary Law
- Johanna Darrah
- Dianne Russell
- Peter Rosenbaum
- Stephen Walter
- Brenda Wilson
- Nancy Pollock
- Barb Galuppi
- Julia Galellis
- Susan Roberts
- For more information contact: Barb Galuppi, Project Coordinator
Outcomes (Measures)
- Body Functions and Structures (Impairment): (GMFCS, ROM)
- Activities: (PEDI, GMFM)
- Participation: (PedsQL, CAPE preschool version)
- Environment: (FES)
Resources
Presentations
Instructional course submitted for AACPDM 2009
Reports
Articles
Pollock, N., Sharma, N., Christenson, C., Law, M., Gorter, J. W., Darrah, J. (2013). Change in Parent-Identified Goals in Young Children with Cerebral Palsy Receiving a Context-Focused Intervention: Associations with Child, Goal and Intervention Factors. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. Epub ahead of print.
Law, M.C., Darrah, J., Pollock, N., Wilson, B., Russell, D.J., Walter, S.D., Rosenbaum, P., & Galuppi, B. (2011). Focus on function: A cluster, randomized controlled trial comparing child- versus context-focused intervention for young children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 53(7), 621-629.
Darrah, J., Law, M.C., Pollock, N., Wilson, B., Russell, D.J., Walter, S.D., Rosenbaum, P., & Galuppi, B. (2011) Context therapy: A new intervention approach for children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 53(7), 615-620.
Law, M., Darrah, J., Pollock, N., Rosenbaum, P., Russell, D., Walter, S.D., Petrenchik, T., Wilson, B., & Wright, V. (2007). Focus on Function - a randomized controlled trial comparing two rehabilitation interventions for young children with cerebral palsy. BMC Pediatrics, 7:31.