Introduction

Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects quality of life of children, parents and families. Sometimes preventable, early detection and intervention can improve outcome. Awareness is low, mostly due to a huge information gap. This study aims to assess whether educational intervention using communication strategies helps improve knowledge and attitudes towards CP.

Methods

Ninety students of first year of medicine, nursing and physiotherapy, (30 each) were included in this interventional study. A prevalidated questionnaire for assessing knowledge and attitudes about CP was administered before, soon after and one month post intervention.. The content was delivered as health talk, poster or audio visual ppt. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS.

Results

Educational Intervention using communication strategies for delivering information showed statistically significant increase in  knowledge of the group about all aspects (definition, causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention) of CP (p=0.000), soon after intervention. Retention and recall was good at one month after single intervention for all aspects except  measures to prevent CP. Knowledge of measures to prevent CP rose from 7.8% to 92.2% soon after intervention (Chi sq 128.356,  p=0.000***) and dropped to 51.1%  (Chi sq 37.532, p=0.000***).   Reactions to persons with CP were tolerance in 46.7%, kindness in 77.8%, sympathy in 65.5%, indifference in 10% and negative in 18.5%.  A month later more students felt kindness (91.1%).

Conclusion/ Discussion

These communication strategies can be extrapolated to mass media. Communication through mass media appears to be the best, cost effective strategy to maximize impact and improve knowledge and attitudes towards CP.