Background and Aim: Cerebral palsy is the most common chronic physical disability in childhood which may have negative effects on quality of lifeof parents. The aim of this research was to study the quality of life in mothers of children with severe cerebral palsy.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 70 children (aged 4 to 12) and their mothers referring to rehabilitation centers in Tehran in 2012 were selected by convenience sampling method. SF-36 was used to assess mother`s quality of life. Mother’s stress and their children gross motor function were assessed using the Resource and Stress Questionnaire and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) respectively. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression tests were used for analyzing the data.

Results: The mothers’ mean age was 34.41 years (SD=5.72). The total mean score on health survey was 53.74. There was a statistically significant relationship between all dimensions of quality of life measures except mental health, social functioning and role limitations from emotional health problems with GMFCS level(p<0.05). Also, it was found that there is a significant relationship between mothers’ mental health, physical health and their total score of quality of life with their level of stress (p=0.000).

Conclusion: Considering the above results, parents of children with cerebral palsy describe their quality of life as moderate. Also, cerebral palsy severity and stress can negatively impact on a mothers’ life.

 Background and Aim: Family is the center and core of the care. Researchers who work with children with disabilities have shown that effective services are those that are focused on the role of families in treatment. The main aim of this study was an overview of family-centered approach (FCA).

 Material and Method: This study is a review of the national and international databases between 1985 and 201 2 .

 Result: Based on the exploration articles and documents, family-centered approach (FCA)

 has been advocated across a wide range of professions from health care (physician, nursing and midwifery), therapy services, early intervention, early childhood education, special and general education. The main essence of FCA includes parental involvement in decision making, collaboration and partnership, mutual respect (family and therapist), acceptance of the family’s choices, support, a focus on strengths, individualized and flexible service delivery, information sharing, and empowerment.

 Conclusion: family-centered approach (FCA) is effective, for children, parents, families, and the service provider. It enhances health care and increases family satisfaction of service delivery system. Perhaps because of the lack of sufficient knowledge and education about FCA, lack of educational materials and training in the medical model, there is limitation in implementation of FCA in Iran

  Keywords: Family centered approach, Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy

 Background and Aim : Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. Children with cerebral palsy require long-term therapy for achieving improved motor function. It seems to be a need for treatment and training at home. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of “handling training” for caregivers at home on the gross motor function of 15-72 months cerebral palsy children.

 Materials and Methods : In this experimental single-blinded study, 40 children with cerebral palsy (15-72 months old) were recruited from some of Tehran public or private rehabilitation clinics based on pre-determined inclusion criteria, and after matching for child age, type of clinic referred to (public or private), type of cerebral palsy, IQ score, GMFCS level and number of occupational treatment sessions already provided at the rehabilitation clinic. The children were allocated randomly into intervention and control groups. For data collection, a demographic information questionnaire, gross motor function measurement (GMFM66) test and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) test were used. Data were collected on three occasions: before the intervention, 1.5 months and 3 months after intervention. For intervention, researchers went to the intervention group's homes and explained educations related to handling for caregivers in a 4-hours session. During 3 months, researchers would follow up to implement the intervention. Data were analyzed by one sample k-S, chi-square, independent sample t test, general linear model and analysis of Covariance.

 Results : There were significant differences in gross motor function of two groups in 1.5 months and 3 months after intervention than before intervention (p<0.001). There were significant difference in gross motor function improvement in pre-post (1.5 months after intervention) (p=0.006) and pre-follow (3 months after intervention) (p<0.001) between two groups and was greater in the intervention group.

 Conclusion : Handling training on caregivers in home improves gross motor function in 15-72 months old cerebral palsy children.

Keywords : Cerebra l palsy, Handling, Gross motor function

Background and Aim: Children with cerebral palsy have impaired quality of life for reasons such as sensory-motor impairments. There is no tool in Persian to examine quality of life of children with cerebral palsy based on their specific conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess psychometric properties of the  Persian version of the parent report of the Quality of Life Questionnaire for adolescence with Cerebral Palsy (CP QOL Teen).

Materials and Methods: In this psychometrics measurement study, CP QOL (parent report) was translated to Persian based on the International Quality of Life Assessment Project (International Quality Of Life Assessment Project: IQOLA), and then its face validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability were assessed. A convenient sample of subjects including 82 parents of adolescence with cerebral palsy (13-18 years old), were recruited.

Results: Face and content validity were obtained by parents and experts respectively. Content Validity Index was 0.62. There was a significant correlation between total score and subscales scores of the questionnaire and also, between total score and GMFCS. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the total score was 0.994. Also, cronbach's coefficient &alpha; for the internal consistency of all of the questions of the questionnaire were 0.996

Conclusion: Persian version of the parent report of CPQOL has acceptable reliability and validity. It is a useful assessment tool for evaluating the quality of life of adolescence with cerebral palsy.

Keywords: Reliability, Validity, Persian version of parent report of the quality of life questionnaire for adolescence with cerebral palsy.