Environmental barriers and facilitators to the participation of children with cerebral palsy in recreational and leisure activities: an integrative review

Abstract

The participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in recreation and leisure activities can be influenced by environmental factors. The recognition and understanding of these factors as barriers or facilitators of these activities are essential to guarantee the right of these children to participate on equal terms with other people in society. In this context, the objective of this integrative review was to identify environmental barriers and facilitators in the participation of children with CP in recreation and leisure activities. The integrative review method proposed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) was used. Studies published between 2011 and 2022 in Portuguese and/or English were selected from MEDLINE indexing sources via PubMed, EMBASE, SciELO, LILACS, SCOPUS and Web of Science. Nine studies were included in the review – most of them cross-sectional in design and qualitative in approach. The following participation facilitators were identified: support from parents, peers and teachers; interaction with adults; therapies; material conditions; activities at home, school and in the community; diversity of toys; and cultural activities. The following barriers to participation were identified: lack of access to public transport; negative attitudes; lack of choice and less parental interaction; and lack of adequacy of activities. The Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the concepts of participation pyramid and family of constructs were fundamental in identifying environmental barriers and facilitators in the participation of children with CP. It is suggested that future studies be conducted to assess the quality and strength of the evidence for participants under 11 years of age.