Commonly Used Outcome Measurement Tools in Pediatric Physical Therapy Telerehabilitation in the Philippines: A Quantitative Cross- Sectional Descriptive Study Protocol

Abstract

Background: With the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for social distancing presents an apparent barrier to in-clinic consultation. Therefore, the adoption of telerehabilitation has rapidly increased to improve access and minimize cross-infection risk to patients. Nevertheless, Filipino pediatric physical therapists must ensure that they conduct evidence-based procedures for specific tests and measures to determine patient outcomes. The utilization of outcome measurement tools (OMTs) enhances the quality of assessment in clinical decision-making and provides a credible and reliable justification for treatment on an individual patient level. However, a lack of information on utilizing OMTs in telerehabilitation by pediatric physical therapists internationally and locally is evident. Objective: To determine the most common pediatric OMTs used in telerehabilitation by Filipino pediatric physical therapists catering to 0 to 21-year-olds in the Philippines. Methods: The study will use an adapted questionnaire to gather data on common OMTs used during pediatric telerehabilitation. Phase I will include the validation of the 15-item adapted questionnaire by determining the content validity index. In Phase II, participants will be recruited through email and social media. Descriptive statistics will be used to report participants' responses. Expected results: In Phase I, the expected result is a valid and reliable questionnaire to investigate the common OMTs used in pediatric telerehabilitation for Phase II. The results will be synthesized to inform other researchers and clinicians and encourage nonusers to utilize OMTs despite the challenge of the pandemic. The study can give insights to stakeholders on what OMTs optimize pediatric telerehabilitation.