Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of family-centered care on wearing ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) in children with spastic cerebral palsy.Methods From July to December, 2016, 65 children with spastic cerebral palsy were divided into control group (n=32) and observation group (n=33). The control group accepted routine nursing, while the observation group accepted family-centered care. The children were assessed with modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and the incidence of skin and soft tissue problems, the compliance for wearing AFO and the satisfaction for nursing service were recorded.Results The score of MAS decreased in the observation group compared with that in the control group (t=3.298, P=0.002), and the incidence of skin and soft tissue problems was less (χ²=7.386, P=0.007). The compliance of patients wearing AFO for rehabilitation, the rate that family performed the rehabilitation, the satisfaction for nursing service were all more in the observation group than in the control group (χ²>5.346, P<0.05).Conclusion The application of family-centered care can improve the compliance for wearing AFO in the children with spastic cerebral palsy, to improve the rehabilitation effect, reduce the incidence of complications, and promote the satisfaction for nursing service.

Key words: cerebral palsy, nursing, family-centered care, ankle-foot orthosis