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Practice considerations for the introduction and use of power mobility for children
Author(s) -
Livingstone Roslyn,
Paleg Ginny
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.12245
Subject(s) - delphi method , inclusion (mineral) , evidence based medicine , psychology , cerebral palsy , intervention (counseling) , international classification of functioning, disability and health , medline , delphi , medical education , medicine , family medicine , alternative medicine , computer science , political science , social psychology , psychiatry , artificial intelligence , physical therapy , rehabilitation , pathology , operating system , law
Aim The aim of the study was to support clinicians in recommending and justifying power mobility for children of different ages and abilities, and with different needs. The study comprised three distinct parts: a literature review; a D elphi consensus; and clinical practice considerations. Method A scoping review of eight electronic databases and manual searches carried out in F ebruary 2011 identified 15 themes or transferable messages among 27 articles meeting initial inclusion criteria and these formed the basis of a draft paper. Informal consensus at two international conference presentations refined and modified the paper to include 10 messages supported by 24 articles. The literature review was updated in M ay 2012 and a modified D elphi process sought to formalize the consensus process with an international panel of 16 expert clinicians and researchers using a priori criteria of 80% agreement. Results Evidence from studies was classified using the A merican A cademy of C erebral P alsy and D evelopmental M edicine guidelines, with evidence from most studies being classified as either level IV or level V , apart from one study each with evidence classified as level II and level III . Expert consensus on the content and wording of nine transferable messages may raise evidence overall to level III . Interpretation This paper suggests that power mobility may reasonably be considered as an effective and appropriate intervention for children lacking efficient, independent mobility from around 12 months of age including children who may never become competent drivers and children lacking independent mobility only in early childhood.