EFFECTIVENESS OF FUNCTIONAL INTENSIVE THERAPY (FITCARE) FOR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY IN DHULIKHEL HOSPITAL: A QUASI EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

K.C. Smita1,1, G. Twanabasu1, A. Bhattarai1, E. Rameckers2
1Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Dhulikhel, Nepal, 2Hasselt’s University, Rehabilitation Science and Physiotherapy, Martelarenlaan, Belgium

Background: Functional Intensive Therapy Care (FITCare) is a short-intensive, task-oriented therapy program incorporating the client-centered goal-specific need for certain hours. The community-based treatment has increased satisfaction level with better compliance with improvement in the functional activity and encouraging to parents. Even though the FITCare camp has been organized in different countries, the evidence regarding its effectiveness is rare and in the context of Nepal is unknown.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to measure the effectiveness of the FITCare camp done in Dhulikhel Hospital through assessment of improvement in activity and participation by the use of outcome measures provided for 6 hours/day for 6 weeks

Methods: 9 Children with cerebral palsy children (CP) and their 9 Parents with Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) level I-V and age group between 1.5 to 12 years were invited to a residential camp in Dhulikhel hospital. The baseline assessment according to International classification of functioning, disability and health: children and youth (ICF-CY) was done by Gross Motor Functional Measure (GMFM), Activity Limitation Measure (ACTIVLIM), Canadian Occupation Performance Measure (COPM) and Goal Attainment Scaling(GAS) was done a day prior of the camp. 1:1 Patient and Physiotherapist treatment was provided to children with CP and their Parents for 6 hours/6 days. The final assessment was done after the final day.

Results: Out of 9 CP children, 1 child dropped out due to sickness. Among 8 children, there are significant changes in the score (p<0.05) in Paired t-test. The GMFCS level of Participant I improved from grade III to grade II. Change in the score of GMFM change was improved by 25.35%, ACTIVLIM mean score improved from 9.37 to 12.125 and COPM from the mean of 3.325 to 4.425 in performance of 2.29 to 4.275 in satisfaction. About 25% of the children achieved Gas scores much more than expected.

Conclusions: The short and intensive camp-based program can be applied for improvement in the functional activity and parent's satisfaction with positive changes in activity and participation level in ICF-CY.

Implications:
  • FITCare camp provide goal directed training method, client focused need based treatment and involving play therapy in the treatment this treatment can be used to achieve specific goal in a short time and parents can be equally involved in treatment procedure.

Funding acknowledgements: Funding was done by Adelante, Valkenburg, The Netherlands and Kathmandu University School of Medical Science, Dhulikhel, Nepal

Keywords:
Functional intensive care (FITCARE )
Cerebral palsy
Parents

Topics:
Paediatrics: cerebral palsy
Paediatrics: cerebral palsy
Paediatrics: cerebral palsy

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Kathmandu University School of Medical science (IRC - KUSMS)
Committee: The Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu University School of Medical Science
Ethics number: 142/19

All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.

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