title: Physical functioning in female caregivers of children with physical disabilities compared with female caregivers of children with a chronic medical condition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if physical functioning is different in female caregivers of children with physical disabilities compared with female caregivers of children with nondisabling medical illnesses, and to investigate the factors associated with functioning level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety consecutive female caregivers of children presenting to a pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) clinic, and 23 presenting to a pediatric endocrine clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen-minute self-administered survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The dependent variable measured was physical functioning (physical functioning subscale of the Short Form-36). Independent variables measured were the average back pain severity over the last week (100-mm visual analog scale), mood (using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), work status, amount of lifting at work, caregiver demographics, child demographics, and the physical functioning ability of the child (measured using the WeeFIM scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) physical functioning score of caregivers of children in the pediatric PM&R clinic was 80.6 (21.9), which was less than the score of 90.2 (17.6) for caregivers in the pediatric endocrine clinic (mean difference, 9.6; 95% confidence interval, -0.9 to -18.4). The physical functioning score of 77.7 (22.9) in caregivers of PM&R clinic children with a WeeFIM scale score of 1 to 4 was significantly worse than the 90.5 (14.8) in female caregivers of children with a WeeFIM score of 5 to 7 (mean difference, 12.8; 95% confidence interval, -2.0 to -23.6). This decrease is associated with the average pain severity, mood, and total length of time of back pain in the previous 12 months. Regression analysis shows that pain severity and caregiver mood are significantly related to the physical functioning status of the caregiver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical functioning is decreased in female caregivers of children with a physical disability. This decrease is associated with caregiver pain severity and mood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48108, USA. hct@umich.edu
authors.forename: Henry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Geeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kandala
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Haig
authors.forename: Virginia S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Karen S J
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yamakawa
authors.forename: Ki Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012044:Regression Analysis