Variation by diagnostic and practice pattern groups in the mobility outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation programs for children and youth.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe variation in functional mobility outcomes among children and youth with different diagnoses and belonging to groups with different practice patterns from an inpatient pediatric rehabilitation hospital setting. A sample of 138 individuals between the ages of 1 and 22 years (mean=9.4, SD=5.3) was enrolled. Physical therapists administered the "Mobility" domain of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory at the time of admission and at the time of discharge. Mobility level (combined admission and discharge scores) and amount of change between and within 4 diagnostic groups (traumatic brain injury, non-traumatic brain injury, orthopedic, and neurological) and 5 neuromuscular and musculoskeletal practice pattern groups were calculated, and post hoc analyses were done for specific contrast comparisons. Mobility scores between admission and discharge for all subgroups were different. Practice pattern groups were useful for identifying variations in level of motor performance. Diagnostic groups best described differences in mobility change during inpatient rehabilitation. The use of practice patterns as grouping categories may enhance our understanding of variation in clinical outcomes of children during inpatient rehabilitation.