Level of Caregivers Satisfaction regarding Inpatient Services at Paediatric Unit of Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that requires continuous, multidisciplinary inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Caregivers play a central role in the rehabilitation process, and their satisfaction with inpatient services is a key indicator of service quality, continuity of care, and long-term adherence to treatment. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Bangladesh, evaluating caregiver satisfaction is particularly important due to financial constraints, limited access to specialized services, and high caregiving burden. Aim To assess the level of satisfaction among caregivers of children with cerebral palsy receiving inpatient services at the pediatric unit of CRP. Method An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among N=152 caregivers of children with Cerebral Palsy admitted for inpatient rehabilitation at CRP. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants. Caregiver satisfaction was assessed using the validated Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 (PSQ-18), which includes seven domains: General Satisfaction, Technical Quality, Interpersonal Manner, Communication, Financial Aspects, Accessibility and Convenience and Time Spent with Doctor. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics, correlation tests, and regression analyses were performed to examine potential associations. Result The study found a very high overall caregiver satisfaction rate of 98.7%. The highest satisfaction was observed in Technical Quality (100%) and Interpersonal Manner (98.7%) reflecting strong confidence in professional competence and staff behavior. However, the Financial Aspect domain showed the highest dissatisfaction with 44.1% of caregivers reporting dissatisfaction. Caregivers with higher monthly income showed significantly higher satisfaction in the Financial Aspect domain (p = 0.026; p = 0.002). First-time inpatient caregivers reported significantly lower satisfaction in Technical Quality, Interpersonal Manner and Communication (p < 0.05). Additionally, caregivers of children with Ataxic CP reported significantly lower communication satisfaction compared to caregivers of children with Spastic CP (p = 0.011). Caregivers with existing health conditions such as hypertension or diabetes reported reduced satisfaction in Accessibility and Convenience (p = 0.035). Conclusion Despite the exceptionally high overall caregiver satisfaction the study identified specific areas requiring focused improvement. The results highlight the importance of reducing financial barriers, strengthening support and communication for families during their first service experience and adopting modify communication approaches for caregivers of children with less common CP subtypes. These findings provide valuable local evidence to inform targeted service improvements at CRP in alignment with its mission. Keywords Caregiver satisfaction, Cerebral Palsy, Inpatient rehabilitation, PSQ-18, Financial burden, Family-centered care, Bangladesh.