Use of diagnosis and prognosis by pediatric physical therapists.

PURPOSE

Diagnosis and prognosis are components of the Patient Client Management Model of the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. The purpose of this study is to determine how pediatric physical therapists (PPTs) define and use diagnosis and prognosis in their practice.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This article reports the themes revealed in answers to open-ended questions on diagnosis and prognosis (n = 7 to n = 68) in an electronic survey that was sent to PPTs who are members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Section on Pediatrics, and non-Section members of the APTA who identify themselves as PPTs.

RESULTS

In this sample, PPTs lack consistency in their definition and use of the terms diagnosis and prognosis. Many respondents reported a level of discomfort with the relevance, utility, and usefulness of diagnosis and prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Despite literature on diagnosis and prognosis, PPTs continue to struggle with using these concepts in their practice.