Development of a core outcome set for lower limb orthopaedic suregical interventions in ambulant children and young people with cerebral palsy

Abstract

First and foremost, I offer my sincerest gratitude to my primary supervisor, Mr. Tim Theologis, for his guidance and support, valuable advice and feedback, for being straight-forward, for not giving up and patiently helping me to stay on the track and unwavering support, in many an hour of self-doubt. I would like to thank him for seeing the potential and believing in me, encouraging me to pursue this body of work. Thank you! I am grateful to my co-supervisors, Professor Helen Dawes, Professor Sally Hopewell and Dr Francine Toye, for offering their expertise, insight, and for their patience, guidance. Thanks must go to Professor Crispin Jenkinson, for his support and contribution and guidance on setting up the project. I am extremely grateful to all advice from members of our Patient and public Involvement group, and the steering committee, ensured that this work focussed on what mattered most to children undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery. This project, which I am, always have and always will be passionate about, would not have been possible without the participation of children and young adults with CP, their families and healthcare professionals across the UK and colleagues internationally, who have participated with excitement, wisdom and honesty. I hope that the influences of this research are far-reaching. I am indebted to the Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University for funding me to undertake a DPhil program. This decision has made an incredibly positive impact on my life, and I hope, produced work that will benefit children with CP internationally. To my colleagues, Foteini Mavrommati, Stella Koukides, Jerneja Uhan, Norah Almulhem and Wafa Almusallam for their guidance and inspiring me every single time we met through the years in completing this research. I reserve my most heartfelt thanks for my family. My parents and family, for their constant love and support and for believing in me enthusiastically. Most of all, I would like to thank my husband, Abdullah, who has been my biggest supporter, and whose bravery, integrity and resilience are a constant source of inspiration.