Hsiang-Yu Lin1,2,3,4,5, Chih-Kuang Chuang3,6,7, Yen-Jiun Chen2, Ru-Yi Tu3, Ming-Ren Chen1,2,4, Dau-Ming Niu5,8, Shuan-Pei Lin1,2,3,4,9. 1. Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Medical College, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan. 7. Institute of Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan. 8. Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 9. Department of Infant and Child Care, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
AIM: Information regarding the functional strengths and weaknesses of children with Down syndrome is important for early intervention programmes and for agencies providing family support and educational services. METHOD: This study used the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) questionnaire for the parents or caregivers of 166 Taiwanese children (101 males and 65 females; median age 12y 7mo; range 3y 2mo-19y 1mo) with Down syndrome to assess their functional skills. RESULTS: Out of a potential score of 126, the mean total WeeFIM score was 101.2. There was no statistically significant difference between the scores from the male and female participants (100.4 [SD 21.4] vs 102.4 [SD 24.7]; p>0.05). The mean scores for three domains (self-care, mobility, and cognition) were 45, 33, and 23 respectively (maximum of 56, 35, and 35 respectively). Performance was strongest in the mobility domain and weakest in the cognition domain. The total WeeFIM scores and 18 subscores for the three domains all positively correlated with age (p<0.05). INTERPRETATION: For children with Down syndrome, some support and supervision is required for cognition and self-care tasks. The WeeFIM questionnaire may be useful for identifying the strengths and limitations of children with developmental disabilities and their families.
AIM: Information regarding the functional strengths and weaknesses of children with Down syndrome is important for early intervention programmes and for agencies providing family support and educational services. METHOD: This study used the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) questionnaire for the parents or caregivers of 166 Taiwanese children (101 males and 65 females; median age 12y 7mo; range 3y 2mo-19y 1mo) with Down syndrome to assess their functional skills. RESULTS: Out of a potential score of 126, the mean total WeeFIM score was 101.2. There was no statistically significant difference between the scores from the male and female participants (100.4 [SD 21.4] vs 102.4 [SD 24.7]; p>0.05). The mean scores for three domains (self-care, mobility, and cognition) were 45, 33, and 23 respectively (maximum of 56, 35, and 35 respectively). Performance was strongest in the mobility domain and weakest in the cognition domain. The total WeeFIM scores and 18 subscores for the three domains all positively correlated with age (p<0.05). INTERPRETATION: For children with Down syndrome, some support and supervision is required for cognition and self-care tasks. The WeeFIM questionnaire may be useful for identifying the strengths and limitations of children with developmental disabilities and their families.
Authors: Jenny Downs; Peter Jacoby; Helen Leonard; Amy Epstein; Nada Murphy; Elise Davis; Dinah Reddihough; Andrew Whitehouse; Katrina Williams Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2018-11-20 Impact factor: 4.147