A semi-standardized music therapy intervention for girls with Rett syndrome: A descriptive essay

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder resulting in a wide range of functional impairments and therefore greatly impacts the lives of both patients and their families. While genetic and medical aspects have been studied for several decades, rehabilitation intervention research is still in its infancy. In this study, the investigating researchers have presented a rehabilitative framework by using music therapy for girls with RTT. This model is founded upon the use of music therapy in light of Stern’s proposal of subjective experience and affect attunement; it also refers to Rosenbaum’s family-centered rehabilitation medicine perspective. This study both describes the theory behind this intervention and presents a newly developed outcome measure. This novel tool may have future clinical and research applications. Music therapy for patients with RTT has not been well researched yet, and as a result, is not universally recommended. However this study’s findings suggest that music therapy is an important component of multidisciplinary therapy. Further collaborative research should be encouraged in order to study and implement the use of music therapy in the treatment of severe disabilities. Projects such as the Enablin+program with the support from the European Commission constitute fundamental tools in promoting integrative medical research and international networks.

MIDDLE EAR DISORDERS AMONG CLEFT LIP AND PALATE IN CHILDREN: A CONJOINT EXPOSITION

Objective: To analyze the frequency of middle ear disorders among the cleft lip and palate and association with hearing Loss. Study Design: Cross Sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Audiology Department of Cleft Hospital, Gujrat and ENT department of National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Islamabad, from Oct 2018 to Mar 2019. Methodology: We recruited a sample of 100 cleft lip and palate children of both genders, aged 3 month to 12 years, using nonprobability sampling. Screening was performed with otoscopy, tympanometry and hearing assessment. Results: Out of sample population, 62% were males and 38% females with a mean age of 2.27 ± 2.73 years. The middle ear disorders were found to be 70%. Among these otitis media with effusion was the most common 43 (61.43%), followed by Acute otitis media 8 (11.43%) and Eustachian tube dysfunction 6 (8.57%). Tympanosclerosis and dry tympanic membrane perforation were the least common. Statistically significant association of hearing loss was found with the middle ear disorders (p<0.001). Conclusion: Middle ear disorders especially otitis media with effusion are common in cleft lip/ palate children.

Key Success Factors for Medical Service Quality of Early Treatment and Rehabilitation for Children in Taiwan

Early treatment and rehabilitation medical service is one of the important items in rehabilitation medicine. The service quality is critical for developing organizational sustainability. Therefore, the key success factors for the quality of such services are worthy of study. The main focus of this study is to explore the key success factors of the quality of early treatment and rehabilitation medical service in Taiwan. This study adopted an expert questionnaire for professional therapists related to rehabilitation care in Taiwan, and developed a total of 5 evaluation dimensions and 17 key success factors according to the concept of SERVQUAL. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to analyze the expert questionnaires. The research results show that reliability is the most important dimension to construct quality early treatment and rehabilitation medical services. The seven key success factors affecting the quality of early treatment and rehabilitation medical services are in the order of “Professional treatment meets the needs of the case”, “Therapists have professional knowledge and skills”, “Professionalism gives parents and the case confidence”, “Professional advice can be understood by parents”, “The treatment equipment is consistent with the treatment provided by the therapists”, “Provide professional treatment in a timely and appropriate manner”, and “Therapists are enthusiastic and professional in handling case problems”. The practical implications of the research findings are also discussed in the study.

Spina bifida care, education, and research: A multidisciplinary community in a global context

Worldwide neural tube defects, such as encephalocele and spina bifida (SB), remain a substantial cause of the global burden of disease; and in the US, Latinos consistently have a higher birth prevalence of SB compared with other ethnic groups. From limited access and fragmented care, to scarcely available adult services, many are the challenges that besiege those living with SB. Thus, to provide inclusion and active involvement of parents of children and adults with SB from all communities, innovative approaches will be required, such as community-based participatory research and culturally competent learning collaboratives. Promisingly, the Spina Bifida Community-Centered Research Agenda was developed by the community of people living with SB through the Spina Bifida Association (SBA). Additionally, the SBA will host the Fourth World Congress on Spina Bifida Research and Care in March of 2023. Just as the SBA is clearly committed to this population, the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine will continue to serve as a catalyst for SB care, education, and research across the SB population in a global context.

Who is managing the bowels? A survey of clinical practice patterns in spina bifida clinics

PURPOSE: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) affects 80% of individuals with spina bifida. Performing and disseminating research on NBD to reach the appropriate audience is difficult given the variability among medical specialties managing NBD. This study aimed to identify which medical specialties and types of providers are currently managing NBD in the United States. METHODS: A survey was developed and sent to 75 spina bifida clinics. Surveys queried which specialty was primarily responsible for medical and surgical management of NBD and any others that assist in NBD care. The license and certification level of the providers were collected. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe the results. RESULTS: Response rate was 68%. Urology was the leading specialty primarily responsible for NBD management (39%) followed by rehabilitation medicine and developmental pediatrics (22% and 20%, respectively). Physicians were the primary providers of care followed by nurse practitioners (54% vs 31%). Urology performs 65% of NBD surgeries. CONCLUSION: Multiple specialties and providers are involved in NBD management with variation among clinics. Development of improved NBD care should include a spectrum of specialties and providers. Dissemination of research should be aimed at multiple specialty groups.

Development of a System for Measurement on Asymmetric Sitting Posture

Sitting posture measurement system using the unstable board with accelerometer was developed. And, postural balance was assessed to determine the effect of asymmetry on sitting posture between patients with pelvic asymmetry and healthy subjects. 10 subjects (pelvic asymmetry patients:5, healthy controls:5) were participated in this study. We performed experiment under static and dynamic sitting condition. Angular variation in the anterior-posterior and left-right direction was measured in both two conditions. Also, intra class correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the reliability of the system. The value of angle of pelvic asymmetry patients was more tilted significantly to the left side than right side during static and dynamic sitting. The reliability of the system was excellent. This paper suggested that a system for measurement on asymmetric sitting posture can be utilized to provide useful information about patients with pelvic asymmetry in rehabilitation medicine. Furthermore, results from this study can be used to develop the new clinical quantitative measurement system.

Features of the organization of medical rehabilitation at the present stage

The development of rehabilitation at the present stage is one of the priorities in the field of health and social development. Not only medical organizations, but also other organizations can take part in carrying out medical rehabilitation activities. A prerequisite for the implementation of rehabilitation activities is the availability of a license for medical activity with an indication of medical rehabilitation work. Of great concern is the issue of staffing of medical organizations, especially primary care, by such specialists as a doctor of physical and rehabilitation medicine, a doctor of medical rehabilitation, a medical speech therapist, an ergorehabilitation specialist, etc. In the absence of these specialists in medical organizations, it is impossible to form interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams, and in their absence, the solution of medical rehabilitation issues is questionable. The article contains an analysis of the current legal framework for medical rehabilitation. The stages of medical rehabilitation in medical organizations are reflected in accordance with the scale of rehabilitation routing. Four groups of medical organizations carrying out medical rehabilitation have been identified. The shortcomings of the current legal framework for medical rehabilitation are indicated, since a comprehensive rehabilitation system is currently being formed in the Russian Federation. For its successful development and implementation in the practical activities of medical organizations and social institutions, a regulatory and legal framework is being developed and improved. The approved Procedure for the organization of medical rehabilitation will allow to systematize and organize this work at a qualitatively new level.