Evaluation of a Philippine community based rehabilitation programme

Unmet Health Care Service Needs of Children With Disabilities in Penang, Malaysia

Information on unmet health care needs reveal problems that are related to unavailability and inaccessibility of services. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence, and the reasons for unmet service needs among children with disabilities in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Caregivers of children with disabilities aged 0 to 12 years registered with the Penang Social Welfare Department in 2012 answered a self-administered mailed questionnaire. A total of 305 questionnaires were available for analysis (response rate 37.9%). Services that were very much needed and yet highly unmet were dental services (49.6% needed, 59.9% unmet), dietary advice (30.9% needed, 63.3% unmet), speech therapy (56.9% needed, 56.8% unmet), psychology services (25.5% needed, 63.3% unmet), and communication aids (33.0% needed, 79.2% unmet). Access problems were mainly due to logistic issues and caregivers not knowing where to obtain services. Findings from this study can be used to inform strategies for service delivery and advocacy for children with disabilities in Penang, Malaysia.

Factors Associated With Caregiver Burden Among Caregivers of Children With Cerebral Palsy in Sri Lanka

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 375 caregivers of children with cerebral palsy attending a tertiary care setting in Sri Lanka, to identify factors associated with caregiver burden. Caregiver burden was defined as “caregiver’s response to various stressors associated with caregiving” and was measured using Caregiver Difficulties Scale (CDS), developed specifically for this purpose. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess associations between sociodemographic, stressor, and coping factors and caregiver burden; and to examine whether coping reduces the effect of stressors on burden. Low income, rural residence, male sex, and number of functional deficits of the disabled child correlated significantly with higher caregiver burden, while spousal support correlated with lower burden. Seeking social support reduced the increased burden associated with greater functional impairments. Psychosocial interventions focused on evaluating and improving social support for caregivers may help families at high risk for caregiver distress, to minimize negative outcomes.

Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) monitoring and evaluation methods and tools: a literature review

PURPOSE

To identify and analyse tools and methods that have been reported in the literature for the monitoring and evaluation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes.

METHOD

A literature review and descriptive analysis were carried out to scope CBR monitoring and evaluation methods and tools. A search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, hand searches and reference lists. Reports were retrieved, screened and information was extracted and analysed against research questions.

RESULTS

There were 34 reports which met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the 34 reports showed that most reports used demographic and programme data. A range of methods were used: interviews, focus groups and questionnaires being the most common. Apart from this, no common standardised procedures or tools were identified and there was not a standard approach to the inclusion of people with disabilities or other CBR stakeholders.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that there would be value in creating resources such as guidelines, common processes and checklists for monitoring and evaluation of CBR, to facilitate efficient and comparable practices and more comparable data. This needs to be done in partnership with people with disabilities, CBR providers, partners and researchers to ensure that all stakeholders' needs are understood and met. Implications for Rehabilitation While there is broad scope and complexity of CBR programmes, there needs to be consistency and a valid approach in the monitoring and evaluation methods and tools used by CBR programmes. The principles of CBR and CRPD require that monitoring and evaluation involve people with disabilities, CBR managers and staff not only as informants but also in the design and execution of monitoring and evaluation activities. The consistent use of appropriate and valid monitoring and evaluation methods and tools will contribute to developing a stronger evidence base on the efficacy and effectiveness of CBR.

The evidence base for community-based rehabilitation: a literature review

Literature on community-based rehabilitation (CBR) published between 1978 and 2002 is reviewed to assess the evidence base for CBR. There were 128 articles found that met the criteria set by the authors. The articles have been classified according to the methodology used and the key aspects studied. The review showed an ever-increasing number of publications on CBR. Theory papers and descriptive studies are the most common types of papers in CBR literature. Intervention studies and case reports are relatively rare. No systematic review has yet been carried out although reviews on specific aspects of CBR have become available. The key aspects of 'implementation' and 'stakeholders' are relatively well presented but the numbers of articles on 'participation' and 'use of local resources' are noticeably low. This study reveals that there is no real focus of research in CBR and therefore the evidence base for CBR is fragmented and incoherent on almost all aspects of CBR. It is recommended that comprehensive review studies should be carried out on key aspects of CBR projects. This should be supported by systematic research in CBR projects in order to establish evidence-based practices.

Viable methods for evaluation of community-based rehabilitation programmes

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to discuss some viable and practically feasible methods for evaluation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes in developing country settings.

METHOD

Based on review of literature the role of qualitative approaches for evaluation of CBR programmes are analysed.

RESULTS

Aspects of the qualitative paradigm are discussed. The specific qualitative methods of case studies, focus groups, nominal groups, participatory techniques, content analysis, and key informant interviews are deliberated.

CONCLUSIONS

Viable alternatives to the qualitative paradigm offer promise in evaluation of CBR programmes. Issues in qualitative designing, sampling, data collection, analysis, and interpretation are discussed. The classical, quantitative paradigm needs to be complemented with viable qualitative methods for evaluation of CBR programmes.