Author Identifier

ORCID: 0000-0002-2407-4632

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis - ECU Access Only

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

First Supervisor

Associate Professor Chris Abbiss

Second Supervisor

Professor Catherine Elliott

Third Supervisor

Dr Katherine Langdon

Fourth Supervisor

Dr Marie Blackmore

Abstract

This thesis is framed within the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY). As such, the four studies that comprise this thesis are viewed and reported according to the ICF-CY domains of Body Structure and Function, Activity, Participation and Environment.

Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have a higher incidence of sleep disturbance than children without CP, with a diverse and complex range of issues affecting their sleep. Sleep disturbance has serious impact on children’s physical and mental health, development, daytime function and well-being, and that of their caregivers. Management of body temperature is frequently identified as an issue affecting sleep of children with CP. The functions of sleep and body temperature regulation occur due to a synchrony between physiological function, activity and the environment. The use of selected bedding materials is one possible way to manage children’s sleep environment. While there are bedding materials commercially available which claim to address this need, there is no reported information to guide clinical practice in this area. Thus, the overall objectives of the four research studies contained within this doctoral thesis were to examine the patterns of skin temperature and sleep in school aged children, and to understand the effects of ‘thermobalancing’ bedding, using dynamic phase change materials, on sleep and daytime function of children with CP within their everyday settings...

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