Methods. The data sources include Medline (PubMed), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO along with reference lists of relevant reviews and involved articles. Study eligibility criteria were studies that assess the use of telehealth for implementation of assessments and/or early interventions for children aged 0–6 years with diagnosis of all types of neurodevelopmental disabilities. Narrative synthesis and tables of results of telehealth studies were developed.

Results. The services delivered included diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder, speech and language screening, educational training, guidance, and supervision in the implementing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder, behaviour problems, speech and language delays, hearing problems, preterm, developmental problems, and cerebral palsy.

Conclusions. Telehealth has a potential for autism spectrum disorder, speech, and language impairments identification. Also, telehealth is a promising model to deliver behaviour, communication, and speech and hearing targeted interventions. There is a lack of studies on using telehealth in early interventions for children with other types of neurodevelopmental disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy).

Three aspects of children’s experiences of winter were revealed: (1) variety of nature in winter, (2) winter activities, and (3) cold climate. The children saw winter as an opportunity to engage in various activities and were pleased to spend time outdoors in winter. The children experienced cold, but they reported that the cold climate was not an obstacle if they wore sufficiently insulating clothes. The children enjoyed winter and the opportunities it provided.

When promoting children’s well-being, it is important to support children’s natural enthusiasm for outdoor recreation in winter and enable them to engage in safe, healthy outdoor activities, while taking into account the risks of cold and body-cooling. Long-term follow-up studies that investigate the effects of the winter season and cold-related complaints or injuries to children are needed.

Design and methods. The cross-sectional quantitiative study was undertaken in Kaunas County, Lithuania. The criteria for inclusion were the following: children born within the period of 1987−1998; children living in Kaunas County at the time of the study; and diagnosis of cerebral palsy mentioned in medical records at least once. An additional inclusion criterion for children living in orphanages was parents’ (or mother’s) living address in Kaunas County or unknown at the moment of the study. Refugees temporarily living in a refugees’ camp in Kaunas County were not included into the list. Additionally, all cases were included when any information about a neuroinfection at an early age, severe encephalopathy, severe unspecified developmental disorder or any other disorder that could have clinical signs similar to cerebral palsy was found in medical records (“suspected cases”). The study was performed in two stages. In the first stage, a list containing the study population was made. In the second stage, a child neurologist, using Survey Cerebral Palsy Europe Reference and Training Manual, examined every child and confirmed or refuted the diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Results. There were 728 potential cerebral palsy cases. In 270 cases, diagnoses of cerebral palsy were confirmed. In 1987−1998, the population-based prevalence of cerebral palsy was 2−3.4 (mean 2.5, SD=0.398) per 1,000 children, and the birth rate-based prevalence was 1.9−3.3 (mean 2.3, SD=0.398) per 1,000 live births. In each study year, the population-based prevalence was higher than the birth rate-based prevalence. The difference was significant, Z=–2.842, P=0.004. There were no significant trends in the population-based prevalence of cerebral palsy (95% CI, 0.693−2.079), nor in the birth rate-based prevalence (95% CI, 0.693−2.079) over the study years.

Conclusion. The population-based prevalence of cerebral palsy over the period of 1987−1998 was 2−3.4 (mean 2.5, SD=0.398) per 1,000 children, and the birth rate-based prevalence was 1.9−3.3 (mean 2.3, SD=0.398) per 1,000 live births. Due to the low number of cerebral palsy cases in separate areas of Kaunas County or separately in each study year, the study data do not give a reliable view of trends of the prevalence of cerebral palsy. Further studies are needed to estimate trends in changes of the prevalence of cerebral palsy in Lithuania.

Methods. The study was conducted during November 2014 and March 2015. In total, 50 parents participated in the study. A questionnaire was composed by the researchers. Parents were taught at a hospital about care of children with bronchial asthma according to an individual program, and their knowledge was evaluated before and after the program.

Results. The mean age of the parents was 33.6 (SD, 6.0) years. The majority of the parents (n=42, 84.0%) wanted to acquire more knowledge about bronchial asthma. Many parents (n=40, 80.0%) wanted to learn about care of children with bronchial asthma by way of individual training. They were most often consulted about bronchial asthma by a family doctor (n=40, 80.0%) and most seldom by nurses (n=10, 20.0%). After individual training, the parents knew better about symptoms of bronchial asthma, such as wheezing while breathing, chest tightness, and physical load intolerance. The parents did not know much about effects of aspirin and sulfites (n=4, 8.0%), physical load (n=12, 24.0%), or perfume as an allergen (n=13, 26.0%) on children with bronchial asthma. After individual training, the knowledge of the parents about the risk factors of bronchial asthma that may cause exacerbations of the disease significantly improved. The majority of the parents (n=47, 94.0%) knew that breathing in and pressing an inhaler should be combined; however, they did not know (n=37, 74.0%) that it was important to rinse the mouth after inhalation.

Conclusions. Individual parental training in a hospital about care of children with bronchial asthma had a positive effect. The parents felt it was important for them to acquire knowledge and information about control of bronchial asthma from healthcare specialists. Therefore, it is essential to organize individual training at healthcare institutions, where it could and should be carried out and coordinated by nurses.