Association Between Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Services and Children’s Functional Outcomes: King Fahad Medical City Experience

Abstract

Background:Disability may affect children?s performance of functional activities. This may translate to difficulties in returning to home and/or school. It has been documented that intensive rehabilitation programs for children with disabilities lead to an improvement in their functional abilities. Wee-FIM is a valid and reliable outcome measure that is used commonly with children undergoing rehabilitation.Objectives:To study changes in the functional status of children admitted to a specialized pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit.Design:A retrospective cohort study.Setting:King Fahad Medical City?Rehabilitation Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods:Investigators reviewed records of children admitted to a pediatric rehabilitation unit between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017. The outcome measures used were rehabilitation length of stay (LOS), Wee-FIM gain, and Wee-FIM efficiency.Results:The total number of records included in this study was 361 records. Sixty percent of the children were boys. The mean age was 8.7?±?3.8?years (range, 3-17?years). Children with cerebral palsy accounted for 45.2% of the children. The mean LOS was 43?days. Children with brain tumors had the shortest LOS compared with children with other diagnoses. Mean (SD) Wee-FIM efficiency was 0.58 (±0.6). Highest Wee-FIM efficiency was observed in children with brain tumors. Average Wee-FIM gain was 20 (±15). The highest functional gain was 27 in children with brain tumors while the lowest was 16 in children with cerebral palsy.Conclusions:Intensive inpatient rehabilitation program is associated with improvement in functional performance in children with a variety of impairments and disabilities.