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


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
Prospective cohort.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with physical disabilities experience long waiting times for PT and OT rehabilitation services. Strategies to improve timely service delivery are needed.
Grilli
Lisa
L
Université de Montréal, Ecole de réadaptation, Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR), McGill University Health Center: Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, QC.
Feldman
Debbie Ehrmann
DE
Swaine
Bonnie
B
Gosselin
Julie
J
Champagne
François
F
Pineault
Raynald
R