title: Factors associated with physical therapy services received for individuals with cerebral palsy in an outpatient pediatric medical setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited information is available regarding physical therapy use for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, age, race, sex, and type of insurance with the total physical therapy units received over a 1-year period for individuals with CP in this outpatient pediatric medical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred twenty-five individuals with CP (GMFCS level I, 36%; level II, 15%; level III, 13%; level IV, 19%; and level V, 17%) were identified retrospectively through their electronic medical records. A one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) was performed for each explanatory variable followed by a multiway ANOVA that adjusted for other variables to find the best model to explain total physical therapy units received.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference in total therapy units received was found among GMFCS levels (F=6.91; df=4,420; P<.001), age groups (F=4.76; df=3,421; P=.028), and type of insurance (F=8.09; df=2,422; P=.004). No significant difference in physical therapy received was found for the factors of sex and race. The final multifactorial model indicates a significant main effect of insurance and a GMFCS by age interaction accounting for 19% of the variability (F=4.45; df=21,403; P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is cross-sectional and examines physical therapy services received in a pediatric medical setting in 1 geographic region of the United States.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study provide insight into how therapy received varies for individuals with CP. Future studies should evaluate additional variables that may affect physical therapy services received.
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, MLC 4007, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. amy.bailes@cchmc.org
authors: Amy F
authors: AF
authors: Bailes
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Succop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult