The Move & PLAY Study: An Example of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Outcomes Research

Abstract

This perspective article provides an example of a study planned using guidelines for comprehensive rehabilitation outcomes research, an approach that is believed to give service providers meaningful evidence to support practice. This line of investigation has been guided by the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. The short title of a study under way is Move & PLAY (Movement and Participation in Life Activities of Young Children). The article briefly describes the conceptual model, provides guidelines on how indicators and measures are selected, alludes to the details of selected measures, and describes processes of preparing for data collection, including obtaining ethics approval, preparing data collection booklets, training assessors and interviewers, and sampling. The aim of this investigation is to gain a better understanding of the multiple child, family, and service factors associated with changes in mobility, self-care, and play of preschool children with cerebral palsy as a result of using this research method. Comprehensive rehabilitation outcomes research holds promise in providing evidence that supports the complexities of planning rehabilitation services with clients with chronic conditions, such as children with cerebral palsy.

Correspondence of classifications between parents of children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 6 years and therapists using the Gross Motor Function Classification System

“…Further details of the full data collection procedures are contained in an earlier study. 13 Demographic characteristics of parents and families are shown in Table II. The participating parents were primarily mothers (87%) and had an educational level of college diploma or higher (72%).…”

“…Details of the convenience sampling procedure are contained in an earlier paper. 13 Participants were assessed at three time periods: the start of the study, 6 months later, and 1 year from the start of the study. Before data collection, parents provided signed informed consent for both participation and publication of study results.…”

Predictors of Independent Walking in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy

“…The diagnosis of CP was confirmed at the end of the Move & PLAY study for children less than 2 years of age at the beginning of the study. 25 Institutional review board approval was obtained and parents provided informed consent.…”

“…Children were 18-60 months of age selected from a sample of convenience from 4 regions in the United States and 9 regions in Canada. 25,38 Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of CP or delays in gross motor development and impairments in muscle tone, righting and equilibrium reactions, anticipatory postural movements, and active range of motion during movement.…”

“…Child motivation, representing an intrinsic drive to master a challenging skill, has been identified as a determinant of basic motor abilities in children with CP. 25,26 Together, child neuromuscular functions and motivation represent 'child factors' that may be influential in the development of independent walking. Family support to the child and support to the family, i.e., 'family factors' represent the influences of parents and community members who provide an opportunistic environment that may promote independent walking.…”