Wait times for paediatric rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Early therapy intervention for children with disabilities may improve functional outcomes. Access to paediatric rehabilitation services can sometimes be difficult.

Objectives: To describe waiting time to receive physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) services at rehabilitation centres for young children with physical disabilities; to examine factors associated with these waiting times.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Subjects: Two hundred and six children with physical disabilities, aged 6 to 72 months, referred in 2002-2004 from the Montreal Children's Hospital and Sainte-Justine Hospital to paediatric rehabilitation centres.

Measures: Data on date of referral, age, gender and diagnosis were obtained from the hospital databases. Data on date of first PT or OT appointments at the rehabilitation centre, family socio-demographics and disability severity (WeeFIM) were obtained during parental interviews.

Results: Half of the sample waited more than 7 and 11 months for PT and OT services, respectively. Shorter waiting time was significantly associated with younger child's age and referral to one particular rehabilitation centre.

Conclusion: Children with physical disabilities experience long waiting times for PT and OT rehabilitation services. Strategies to improve timely service delivery are needed.

Figures

FIGURE 1.

Diagnosis (GDD, non-GDD) by age group (n=206)

FIGURE 2.

WeeFIM severity by age group (n=206)

FIGURE 3.

Survival analysis for first PT and OT appointment at the rehabilitation centre (in months)