Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33028544›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2020

Feasibility and effectiveness of home-based therapy programmes for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

Laura W M E Beckers, Mellanie M E Geijen, Jos Kleijnen, Eugene A A Rameckers, Marlous L A P Schnackers, Rob J E M Smeets, Yvonne J M Janssen-Potten

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
39citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

39 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  11. The psychometric properties of the Dubousset Functional Test in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Laura W M E Beckers *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands.
Mellanie M E Geijen *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands mellanie.geijen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.ORCID 0000-0002-6733-3147
Jos KleijnenKleijnen Systematic Reviews, York, UK.
Eugene A A RameckersDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands.
Marlous L A P SchnackersBehavioral Science Institute, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen, Gelderland, The Netherlands.
Rob J E M SmeetsDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands.
Yvonne J M Janssen-PottenDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo assess the feasibility and effectiveness of home-based occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes in children with cerebral palsy (CP), focusing on the upper extremity and reporting on child-related and/or parent-related outcomes.

designSystematic review. DATA SOURCES: Electronic searches were performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, OTseeker and PEDro, and in ICTRP and CENTRAL trial registers, from inception to 6 June 2019. ELIGIBLE CRITERIA: The review included all types of original studies concerning feasibility or effectiveness of home-based therapy in children aged <18 years with any type of CP. No language, publication status or publication date restrictions were applied. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Study and intervention characteristics and the demographics of participating children and their parents were extracted. Feasibility was assessed by outcomes related to acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, adaptation, expansion or integration. Regarding effectiveness, child-related outcome measures related to any level of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, or parent-related outcomes were investigated. Two authors independently extracted the data. Risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist.

resultsThe search resulted in a total of 92 records: 61 studies and 31 conference abstracts. Feasibility studies reported mainly on acceptability and implementation. Overall compliance to home-based training programmes (implementation) was moderate to high, ranging from 56% to 99%. In the effectiveness studies, >40 different child-related outcome measures were found. Overall, an improvement in arm-hand performance within group across time was shown. Only two studies reported on a parent-related outcome measure. No increase in parental stress was found during the intervention.

conclusionsBased on the results of the included studies, home-based training programmes seem to be feasible. However, conclusions about the effectiveness of home programmes cannot be made due to the large variability in the study, patient and intervention characteristics, comparators, and outcome measures used in the included studies. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016043743.

Indexed as

Cerebral PalsyOccupational TherapyAdolescentChildFeasibility StudiesHumansParentsPhysical Therapy Modalitiespaediatricsrehabilitation medicinetherapeutics

Identifiers

PMID33028544
PMCPMC7539606

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.