Exploration of the Inclusion of the PedsQL in Pediatric Rehabilitation

Research Objectives: To explore the implementation and contribution of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL ) to the therapeutic process in pediatric rehabilitation over time.

Design: Descriptive retrospective review of pediatric occupational (OT), physical (PT), and speech therapy (ST) medical records over a one-year period of time.

Setting: This research took place across three pediatric outpatient rehabilitation clinics.

Participants: All medical records for children born after March 31, 2003, who participated in therapy from March 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, were examined.

Interventions: N/A

Main Outcome Measures: PedsQL

Results: 1,670 records were investigated. Only 6% received the PedsQL (n=96). Comparisons were made to examine administration over time, assessments used, progress towards outcomes, therapy discipline, child's age, payors source, and diagnoses across all cases. PedsQL administration was low throughout the time period and trended downward over the year. The three clinics demonstrated inconsistent administration: clinic one implemented Peds QL 31%, clinic two only 2% and clinic 3 was 61%. OT was the highest with administration (45%) of PedsQL. Toddlers and young children received the PedsQL most frequently (70%). Motor deficits, neurodevelopmental disorders, and sensory integration deficits were the most common diagnoses to receive the PedsQL. However, the most common diagnoses treated during that period of time were speech disorders, orthopedic conditions, and motor deficits. Due to only receiving 3 re-administrations of the PedsQL during the year, not enough data were obtained to compare the PedsQL to therapeutic outcomes or changes in standardized testing scores over time.

Conclusions: Results of the study indicate that the PedsQL was largely underutilized. Although re-administration of standardized testing and goal measurement both yielded progress, 97% of cases that received the PedsQL at initial evaluation did not receive it again, and goals from all disciplines generally did not align with PedsQL scores. Due to highly variable implementation practices over the duration of the study period, the impact of the PedsQL on therapeutic outcomes could not be determined. Further research regarding factors of clinical compliance is recommended.

Author(s) Disclosures: No conflicts