Measuring Functional Change in Turkish Children with Cerebral Palsy Using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI)

Authors: HÜLYA ŞİRZAİ, GÜLTEN ERKİN, CANAN ÇULHA, SUMRU ÖZEL

Abstract: Aim: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the activities of daily living (ADL) of Turkish children with cerebral palsy (CP) using the Turkish version of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) measurement, and to investigate the functional changes during inpatient rehabilitation. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 consecutive children with spastic CP, aged between 6 months and 7 years, were included in the study. The Swedish classification of CP syndromes was applied. CP severity was classified with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). ADL were assessed in children with CP using the Turkish version of the PEDI measurement before rehabilitation (BR) and after rehabilitation (AR). Paired sample T test was applied to investigate whether there was any significant difference in PEDI subscale scores BR and AR. Results: Types of CP in the children were spastic diplegia (n = 38), spastic quadriplegia (n = 35), and spastic hemiplegia (n = 17). Symptoms were grouped by severity according to the GMFCS; 18.9% were classified at level II, 21.1% at level III, 30.0% at level IV, and 30.0% at level V. Limitations in self-care, mobility and social activities increased progressively with GMFCS level. A statistically significant increase was determined in all PEDI subscale scores AR, when compared to BR results (T test, P < 0.05). Conclusions: PEDI is a sensitive and useful outcome measurement method that indicates functional changes in children with CP.

Keywords: Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, cerebral palsy, rehabilitation outcomes

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