Pros and cons of botulinum toxin injection therapy in cerebral palsy: A qualitative study exploring caregivers' perspective

Abstract

Background To describe and understand the experiences and beliefs of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy following botulinum toxin injection. Methods A descriptive case study approach with focus group interviews was employed. A semi-structured questionnaire was conducted to collect data. Twenty-one caregivers of children (3-13 years old) with cerebral palsy were recruited with a maximum variation sampling strategy to gain insight through different perspectives. Qualitative analysis with verbatim transcripts was analysed using a thematic approach. Findings Four themes emerged from qualitative analyses: acceptance of diagnosis, perceptions about treatment, caregivers' experiences with the health environment, and feelings and thoughts after the treatment. Conclusions This study highlights caregivers' requests for information about the possible long-term effect of botulinum toxin, as well as information and support to provide the best rehabilitation programme immediately after injection.