Factors impacting positive and negative participation of young people with cerebral palsy: a Delphi study of consumers and health professionals

To identify specific factors influencing the participation experiences of young people with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 15 to 26 years. A three-round Delphi survey study design was used. Consumers (young people with CP and caregivers) and health professionals were asked to generate and then rate items influencing positive and negative participation experiences. Qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics were used to classify items across the family of Participation-Related Constructs (fPRC) framework. Sixty-eight participants completed Round I (25 consumers, 43 health professionals). Round II resulted in a consensus for all but two items, with Round III not required. The fPRC construct with the most items rated as extremely important for positive participation experiences was <i>Environment–Availability</i>, and for negative participation, experiences were <i>Environment-Acceptability</i> for both adolescents and young adults. A consensus was reached on the most important items influencing the positive and negative participation experiences of young people with CP. These items should be prioritised when developing support services and allocating funding to improve the participation experiences of young people with CP. This study is reporting consumer and professional consensus on the factors promoting positive and negative participation for young people with cerebral palsy.Ensuring availability of appropriate activities and services is extremely important for enabling positive participation experiences.Promoting acceptable attitudes of others is extremely important for alleviating negative participation experiences. This study is reporting consumer and professional consensus on the factors promoting positive and negative participation for young people with cerebral palsy. Ensuring availability of appropriate activities and services is extremely important for enabling positive participation experiences. Promoting acceptable attitudes of others is extremely important for alleviating negative participation experiences.