Self‐care and hand function in preschool children with unilateral or bilateral cerebral palsy: A cross‐sectional study

Aims To describe self‐care capabilities among children with cerebral palsy (CP) and explore associations between self‐care and hand function for children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) and children with bilateral cerebral palsy (BCP) separately. Method Cross‐sectional data on self‐care capabilities (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, PEDI), manual abilities (Manual Ability Classification System, MACS) and hand use during bimanual performance (Assisting Hand Assessment, AHA; Both Hands Assessment, BoHA) were retrieved from the Norwegian Quality and Surveillance Registry for Cerebral Palsy (NorCP). Eighty‐seven children with CP (UCP, n = 61, mean age 4 years 1 month, SD 1 year 3 months, range 56) or BCP (n = 26, mean age 4 years 4 months, SD 1 year, range 41), classified at MACS level I (n = 26), II (n = 40) or III (n = 21), were included. Results No significant differences in self‐care capabilities were found between children with UCP and children with BCP. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in self‐care between MACS levels for the whole group. No significant differences in self‐care between MACS levels were observed for children with UCP (p = 0.36), but significant differences were found for those with BCP (p