Physical function assessment tools in pediatric rheumatology
2008

Assessing Physical Function in Children with Rheumatic Diseases

Sample size: 6000 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Moorthy Lakshmi Nandini, Peterson Margaret GE, Harrison Melanie J, Onel Karen B, Lehman Thomas JA

Primary Institution: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-UMDNJ

Hypothesis

The study aims to review the assessment tools for physical function in pediatric rheumatology.

Conclusion

Understanding the various assessment tools can help evaluate the impact of rheumatic diseases on children's physical function and quality of life.

Supporting Evidence

  • Over 6,000 participants were enrolled from 32 countries to assess health-related quality of life in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
  • Children with persistent oligoarthritis had better health-related quality of life compared to other subtypes.
  • Physical well-being was influenced by the level of functional impairment and intensity of pain.

Takeaway

This study looks at how we can measure how well kids with arthritis can move and do everyday things, which helps doctors understand how the disease affects their lives.

Methodology

The article reviews various scales and tools used to assess physical function and quality of life in children with rheumatic diseases.

Potential Biases

Potential bias may arise from the use of proxy respondents and the variability in parent-child agreement on health-related quality of life.

Limitations

The study notes the challenges in measuring outcomes due to the heterogeneity of diseases and the developmental changes in children.

Participant Demographics

The study includes children with various rheumatic diseases, primarily juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1546-0096-6-9

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication