Investigating the Association Between Using Night Braces and Sleep Habits of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Parental Quality of Life

Abstract

To examine the sleep habits of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and use of night braces and to investigate their association with parental quality of life. The study included 114 children aged 3–6 (57 with typical development (TD) and 57 with CP). The children with CP were grouped according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and night brace use (NBU). “Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire-Abbreviated Form” and “Short-Form Health Survey” were used to investigate the children’s sleep habits and the parents’ quality of life, respectively. Results were compared for children with CP and TD, and for NBU and non-use (NNBU) in children with CP. All children had sleeping problems, but night waking was more prevalent among children with CP (p 0.05). The quality of life of the parents of children with CP and TD was significantly different (p < 0.05). NBU children with CP had lower birth weeks. NBU neither caused sleeping problems in children with CP nor impaired their parents’ quality of life and general health.