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Physical Therapy Dosing: Frequency and Type of Intervention in Pediatric Postacute Hospital Care
Helene M Dumas1, Maria A Fragala-Pinkham, Elaine L Rosen
1Research Center (Drs Dumas and Fragala-Pinkham) and Physical Therapy Department (Dr Rosen), Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts; and College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Folmar).
Insights
Physical therapy frequency for children post-hospitalization depends on age and function. Interventions targeting functional improvement are linked to more frequent physical therapy sessions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric physical therapy
- Rehabilitation medicine
- Clinical outcomes research
Background:
- Postacute care for children requires tailored physical therapy (PT) plans.
- Understanding factors influencing PT dosing frequency is crucial for optimizing patient recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how children's characteristics affect PT dosing frequency recommendations.
- To identify the types of PT interventions recommended for pediatric postacute admissions.
Main Methods:
- Collected demographic, clinical, and PT intervention data from April 2015 to March 2016.
- Compared PT frequency (≤3x/wk vs. ≥4x/wk) based on patient factors.
- Described recommended intervention types and their association with frequency.
Main Results:
- Older children, higher functional scores, and less technology dependence were associated with higher PT frequency recommendations.
- Therapeutic exercise was the most common intervention.
- Increased PT frequency correlated with Functional Training and Motor Function Training.
Conclusions:
- Children's age, functional status, and technology dependence are key determinants of PT dosing.
- PT interventions emphasizing functional gains are associated with higher recommended therapy frequency.
Purpose:
To examine differences in physical therapy dosing frequency recommendations based on children's characteristics and to describe types of intervention recommended at postacute hospital admission.
Methods:
Demographic and clinical information, recommended physical therapy intervention frequency, and intervention types were collected for all admissions from April 1, 2015, to March 1, 2016. Differences across 2 groups, children with recommendations for "less" (≤3x/wk) or "more" (≥4x/wk) frequent therapy, were examined. Types of interventions recommended were described and the measure of association between frequency and type was determined.
Results:
Older children, those with higher admission functional scores, and children with less dependence on medical technology were recommended for "more." Therapeutic exercise was the most common intervention recommended. Greater physical therapy frequency was associated with Functional Training and Motor Function Training.
Conclusion:
Children's age, functional level, and technology dependence influence dosing recommendations. Interventions focused on function are associated with greater physical therapy frequency.
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