Sm. Haley et al., Variation by diagnostic and practice pattern groups in the mobility outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation programs for children and youth, PHYS THER, 81(8), 2001, pp. 1425-1436
Background and Purpose. The purpose Of this study was to describe variation
in functional mobility outcomes among children and youth with different di
agnoses and belonging to groups with different practice patterns from an in
patient pediatric rehabilitation hospital setting. Subjects. A sample of 13
8 individuals between the ages of I and 22 years ((X) over bar =9.4, SD=5.3
) was enrolled. Methods. Physical therapists administered the "Mobility" do
main of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory at the time of adm
ission and at the time of discharge. Mobility level (combined admission and
discharge scores) and amount of change between and within 4 diagnostic gro
ups (traumatic brain injury, non-traumatic brain injury, orthopedic, and ne
urological) and 5 neuromuscular and musculoskeletal practice pattern groups
were calculated, and post hoc analyses were done for specific contrast com
parisons. Results. Mobility scores between admission and discharge for all
subgroups were different. Practice pattern groups were useful for identifyi
ng variations in level of motor performance. Diagnostic groups best describ
ed differences in mobility change during inpatient rehabilitation. Discussi
on and Conclusion. The use of practice patterns as grouping categories may
enhance our understanding of variation in clinical outcomes of children dur
ing inpatient rehabilitation.