current projects
The CP Institute is currently involved in the following research projects. Some of these are linked with universities while others are focused CP Institute research projects.
Effectiveness of occupational therapy home program intervention for children with cerebral palsy: a double blinded randomised controlled trial
Primary investigator: Iona Novak, CP Institute
Co-investigators: Anne Cusick (University of Western Sydney) and Natasha Lannin (University of Sydney)
For children with cerebral palsy, regular involvement in a home program is thought to lead to better achievement of goals, abilities and movement skills. This project aims to work out how much of a difference it makes by parents being involved in therapy through a home program and to understand the experience of participating in a home program from a parents perspective.
Cerebral palsy in children born at term: analysis of the WA case-control study
Primary investigator: Sarah McIntyre, CP Institute
Co-investigators: Nadia Badawi (University of Sydney) and Eve Blair (University of Western Australia)
This study seeks to understand more about causal pathways to cerebral palsy, in particular for infants born at term (37+ weeks gestation). Relative risk is much greater for those born early and as a result an emphasis has been placed on researching this group. However infants who are born at term account for 60-65% (Watson, 2006; Reid et al., 2005). This means there are approximately 400 children in Australia each year who are born at term who are later described as having CP. This research seeks to focus on this under-researched group.
Emerging adults with cerebral palsy: the transition from adolescence to young adulthood
Primary investigator: Nicole Sharp (University of Western Sydney, CP Institute)
Co-investigators: Anne Cusick (University of Western Sydney), Iona Novak (CP Institute) and Rosalind Bye (University of Western Sydney)
This research project investigates the experiences and goals of people with cerebral palsy aged 18-25 years as they experience the transition to adulthood. It aims to enable young people with all types and levels of severity of cerebral palsy to tell their stories about what life is like and what is important to them. Unstructured interviews are being used to elicit narratives in a multitude of areas, for example friendships, relationships, work, education, community access, participation, and the meaning of adulthood. Results will offer service providers a greater understanding of the experiences of emerging adults with cerebral palsy and a basis from which to develop and implement services and supports that may be useful in assisting young people to meet their goals.
CP Institute research projects
Prioritisation of cerebral palsy research: a Delphi study
Primary investigator: Sarah McIntyre (CP Institute)
Co-investigators: Iona Novak (CP Institute), Anne Cusick (University of Western Sydney), Nadia Williams (University of Western Sydney) and Jessica Porter (CP Institute)
Cerebral palsy is the most common childhood disability, people with cerebral palsy and the community are in need of research to provide answers both about effective intervention and prevention strategies for cerebral palsy. There is little indication of explicit prioritisation of cerebral palsy research in either Australia or internationally. This study will address this gap using a research method called “Delphi technique”. Representative consumers and researchers will be surveyed to identify and grade the importance of research topics until consensus is reached. The findings of this study will provide new insights to inform the research priorities of The Spastic Centre’s CP Foundation.
Evaluation of the CAL (Competency, Assessment and Local Solutions) program, Fiji
Primary investigator: Julia Salmon (The Spastic Centre)
Co-investigators: Sarah McIntyre (CP Institute)
The CAL program provides a combination of clinical support (C), assessment and consultancy (A) and local/community participation (L) activities to address needs of children with disabilities in Fiji. The evaluation will:
- identify areas of potential program improvement, through assessment of program inputs, outputs and outcomes
- identify the magnitude, distribution and impact of CP and disability in the population observed in Fiji
- aim to make policy and activities, including evaluation, more context and client-focused, by empowering the community to participate in program activities and create capacity around the aims of the program.
A comparison of varying physiotherapy and occupational therapy intensities post botulinum toxin injections for children with cerebral palsy
Primary investigator: Iona Novak (CP Institute)
Co-investigators: Sarah McIntyre (CP Institute), Anne Cusick (University of Western Sydney) and Natasha Lannin (University of Sydney)
It is known that the combination of occupational therapy along with botulinum toxin injections and best-practice home programs can produce positive outcomes for improving function and manage the symptoms of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. This project investigates the nature and extent of parental input and to help determine whether or not intensive provider delivered therapy intervention following upper limb botulinum toxin injections will lead to greater desirable outcome in the daily functioning of a child with cerebral palsy. The results of this research project will provide valuable data for determining therapy intensity and the conditions and processes that affect the treatment process.
Effects of intensive residential Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) training for improving communication competence and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy across settings
Primary investigators: Jane Adams (The Spastic Centre), Nathanya Fall (The Spastic Centre) and
Iona Novak (CP Institute)
The aim of this project is to evaluate the effects of a residential Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) camp for children with cerebral palsy, allied neurological conditions or physical disabilities who have complex communication needs (CCN) and use a speech generating device (SGD) as their primary method of communication, for achieving:
- Increased communicative competence in a functional context
- Increased quality of life across a range of real-life environments including home and school.
CP Register
The CP Register is a web-based database of information about people with cerebral palsy. It’s main aims are to identify the causes of CP, find ways to prevent and manage CP and help to plan services for children and adults with CP.
Find out more about the CP Register
Evaluation of a year five Disability Awareness Package – Just like you!
Primary investigator: Liz Foy (The Spastic Centre)
Co-investigators: Sophie Rothery (The Spastic Centre - Volunteer), Samantha Parsonage (The Spastic Centre), Hayley Smithers-Sheedy (The Spastic Centre) and Nicole Sharp (CP Institute)
This project aims to determine the effectiveness of a short disability awareness program in developing primary school students’ knowledge about, and attitude towards, people with disabilities in three pilot primary schools.
Please Ask Me: speaking about adolescence
Primary investigator: Robyn Cummings (The Spastic Centre)
Co-investigators: Cameron Tang (The Spastic Centre) and Sarah McIntyre (CP Institute)
This project aims to capture the experiences and knowledge of adolescents living with cerebral palsy, to facilitate the preparation of a number of information resources for young people and to inform service provision to this age group.