{
  "abstract": "Introduction\n\nEvidence-based guidelines, published in 2017, recommend confirming a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy (CP) before 6 months of corrected age. In Lebanon where research on early detection is lacking, diagnoses are often delayed, typically initiated only when developmental milestones are missed.Aim\n\nTo assess current practices of clinicians (pediatricians, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists) working with children aged ˂3 years who may be diagnosed with or are at risk of CP across Lebanon and to identify the most used commonly tools for early detection and surveillance programs.Methods\n\nThis cross-sectional study is based on survey distribution to clinicians working with children aged ˂3 years, at risk of CP across Lebanon.Results\n\nNinety clinicians completed the survey (48% physiotherapists, 37% pediatricians, and 15% occupational therapists). Of these, 34% reported diagnosing CP. Only 7% of respondents reported awareness of the Prechtl Qualitative Assessment of General Movements (GMs) and its use in clinical practice for infants aged <12 months. While 33% were aware of the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) for diagnosing children with CP aged ˂24 months, 7% reported using it consistently. Clinicians across all age groups primarily relied on history, signs/symptoms, and brain MRI for diagnosing children with CP. Barriers related to the use of GMs and HINE are related to lack of training and funding. Regarding the surveillance programs adopted, hip and spine monitoring guidelines were reported by 23% and 21% of participants, respectively.Conclusion\n\nEarly CP detection in Lebanon falls short of international standards, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and training through a multicentric or a national action.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.",
    "Medical and Rehabilitation Department, SESOBEL, Ain EL Rihani, Lebanon.",
    "Al-Wakra Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.",
    "Facultad de Educación, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja 26006 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain.",
    "School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.",
    "CanChild Centre for Childhood-Onset Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.",
    "School of Health Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Abir Massaad",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0176-1229"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marie Barhouche Abou Saab"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Nahla Saad Mouawad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Abdullah Alshami"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Álvaro Hidalgo-Robles"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Sian A Williams"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Ginny Paleg"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Micheline Bakhos"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ayman Assi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3582-9420"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ismat Ghanem"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/15bchr79gabxm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.2147/jmdh.s622038",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13695910",
  "id": "15bchr79gabxm",
  "issns": [
    "1178-2390"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928879",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223057562",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13695910?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13695910",
  "pmid": "42928879",
  "published": "2026-10-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/15bchr79gabxm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:18Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42928879",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928879"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2738|Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Assessment of Early Detection Practices for Infants at Risk of Cerebral Palsy in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Multidisciplinary Clinicians.",
  "title_text": "Assessment of Early Detection Practices for Infants at Risk of Cerebral Palsy in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Multidisciplinary Clinicians.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/15bchr79gabxm",
  "venue": "Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare",
  "versions": []
}