Treatment acceptability of healthcare services for children with cerebral palsy

Background Although treatment acceptability scales in intellectual and developmental disabilities research have been used in large- and small-scale applications, large-scale application has been limited to analogue (i.e. contrived) investigations. This study extended the application of treatment acceptability by assessing a large sample of care givers' perceptions of treatment for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in a real-world setting and tested if responses differed across child characteristics, type of medical service or respondent demographics. Method One hundred and fifty four care givers' for children with CP rated the acceptability of treatments and related medical services by clinicians working in a multi-disciplinary children's specialty setting using Kazdin's (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 1980, 259) Treatment Evaluation Inventory. Results There were significant (P < 0.05) differences between male and female respondents' ratings of treatment acceptability. There were no other significant differences for caregiver ratings in relation to child characteristics, type of appointment, severity of CP or other respondent demographic characteristics. Conclusion Mothers and fathers of children with developmental disabilities may differ in their perceptions of the acceptability of medical treatment services for children with developmental disabilities. Future studies addressing treatment acceptability should expand the scope of demographic information assessed and include items specific to the roles respondents have in providing and coordinating therapeutic regimens for their children's medical needs.