Experiences of health services for adults with cerebral palsy, their support people, and service providers

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that makes it hard for people to move and control their muscles. More than 90% of children with CP grow up to be adults. However, many adults with CP get tired easily, feel pain, and have trouble moving around as they get older. They are also more likely to have other health problems like diabetes, heart issues, stroke, and weak bones, so they need regular healthcare to help manage their CP and other health problems. Previous research has shown that adults with CP often have many health problems and use different health services. But there has not been much research on how well they can get this help in Ireland.

In our study, we wanted to find out how adults with CP use health services and what their experiences were like. We talked to 21 adults with CP, seven people who support them, and 15 healthcare providers who work with adults with CP. Out of the 21 adults with CP we interviewed, most were women (67%) and most used wheelchairs (67%). We used a method called thematic analysis to look at all their experiences.