Participation of children with ABI and the relationship with discharge functional status.

AIMS

To investigate the relationship between children's functional status at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and participation in home, school and community life following paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI).

METHODS

The Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP) was mailed to 60 families of school-aged children who had sustained an ABI. Functional status data was obtained from the hospital database. Twenty-eight families participated in the study.

RESULTS

No statistically significant correlations between functional status at discharge and participation levels were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of correlation raised questions regarding the sensitivity of the PEDI and the CASP. Therapists should consider the implication that children who perform well in functional tasks on the PEDI at discharge may not necessarily participate at age-expected levels upon return home. Environmental and child factors that hinder or support participation, such as physical infrastructure and impairments resulting from paediatric ABI, need to be considered when planning services.