Age Specificity in General and Rehabilitation Medical Services in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

ObjectiveTo review the medical utilization in children with cerebral palsy according to age and discern particularitiesMethodsFrom January 2007 to December 2007, 10,659 children and adolescents between 1 and 18 years of age who had filed national insurance claims for a diagnosis of cerebral palsy were selected. Age was chosen as an independent variable, and the population was categorized into specific age groups to verify any differences in medical service utilization. Admission duration to rehabilitation, number of visits to rehabilitation outpatient clinics, numbers of admission dates and outpatient clinic visits for general medical services, number of rehabilitation utilizations, and type of rehabilitations treatment were selected as dependent variables. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical evaluation, and analysis was done with SAS software.ResultsIn general medical use, adolescences diagnosed with cerebral palsy had the highest mean admission duration (p<0.001). The mean visit day to outpatient clinics for general medical services was highest for infants (p<0.001). In rehabilitation treatment, infants diagnosed with cerebral palsy had the highest mean admission duration (p<0.001). The mean visit day to outpatient clinics for rehabilitation treatment was highest for infants (p<0.001).ConclusionSignificant differences in use of general and rehabilitation medical services among pediatric age groups with cerebral palsy were evident. This implies that particular attention is necessary when setting up a national medical care policy for patient with cerebral palsy.

Interventions to Improve or Maintain Lower-Limb Function Among Ambulatory Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Current Practice in the UK

“…A study conducted in South Korea found that, unlike the findings of this study, neurodevelopmental therapy was the most frequently used intervention for adolescents with CP during rehabilitation (Kim, Hong, Lee, Lee, & Kang, 2014). This highlights that the content of rehabilitation provided to adolescents with CP is not consistent across the world.…”

Prevalence, Patterns, and Cost of Care for Children with Cerebral Palsy Enrolled in Medicaid Managed Care

“…Future analyses might investigate the use of management options by age groups; for example, the use of physical therapy may dissipate after the early elementary years. 20 Since extent of ambulation can be considered roughly negatively correlated with severity, it is not surprising that the children considered to be likely nonambulatory had higher management option use, higher rates of care, and higher cost of care compared with those considered likely ambulatory. For example, utilization rates of antispasticity medications, including all forms of baclofen, were higher in nonambulatory children.…”

Using a biopsychosocial approach to examine parental sense of burden and competency associated with raising a child with a physical disability

“…It is suggested that parents, and especially mothers of young children with disabilities, cut the number of hours they work in order to stay home with their infant with a disability, resulting in a possible increased financial burden on the family. Another study reported on the medical expenses for services among children with CP in South Korea (Kim et al, 2014). The authors indicated that the mean cost for general medical care in outpatient clinics was negatively associated with child's age, with medical costs for infants (1–2 years) and toddlers (3–6 years) significantly higher than those for school aged children or adolescents.…”

“…It is suggested that parents, and especially mothers of young children with disabilities, cut the number of hours they work in order to stay home with their infant with a disability, resulting in a possible increased financial burden on the family. Another study reported on the medical expenses for services among children with CP in South Korea (Kim et al, 2014).…”