The immediate and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and their legal guardians living in the province of Quebec: a mixed-methods study

Strict confinement measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as school closures and lockdowns, had a profound impact on vulnerable populations, particularly young people with disabilities and their families. Unfortunately, the long-term effects of these confinement measures remain unexplored. To better understand the immediate and long-term impacts of the confinement measures of COVID-19 pandemic on young people with cerebral palsy and their family in the province of Quebec. A mixed-method study was conducted. 18 legal guardians completed a purpose-developed survey about the overall impact of COVID-19 on their children. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 9 legal guardians. The data from both the survey and the semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, enabling integration between the two methods. Three themes emerged from the qualitative data analysis: (1) Stress and psychological needs; (2) coordination of daily family routines; (3) child development. The pervasive fear of contracting COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the psychological well-being of young people and their legal guardians. Family routines were disrupted leading to increased mental burden and challenges between work and caregiving. The COVID-19 also had a negative impact on the overall development of young people, despite having access to telerehabilitation to mitigate these challenges. Policymakers must thoroughly grasp these findings to effectively address the needs of young people with cerebral palsy and their legal guardians in future public health crises. Additionally, healthcare professionals must remain attentive to both the immediate and long-term impacts, taking proactive steps to safeguard the developmental well-being of these young people.