The impact of the pandemic on physical and functional disabilities in children and adolescents with spina bifida

Study design

Retrospective and cross-sectional study.

Objectives

The study aimed to carry out telemonitoring to identify the impact of the pandemic on physical and functional disabilities in children and adolescents with SB, as reported by their caregivers, and to investigate adherence to a teleservice.

Setting

Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMRP-USP).

Methods

Retrospective and cross-sectional study. Fifty-three patients with SB (mean age 12.0 (4.0) years; 23 males) participated in the telemonitoring. A questionnaire – ‘Health management, health conditions, rehabilitation, interest in teleservice, and the well-being of the main caregiver’ – investigated the clinical impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Only three caregivers participated in the teleservice (video call).

Results

According to telemonitoring, 62% of the patients discontinued physiotherapy sessions, and 69% reported needing adjustments in locomotion devices. The main complaints were muscle weakness and pain.

Conclusion

We monitored general health and identified demands related to physical rehabilitation using telemonitoring in 42.4% of children and adolescents with SB monitored at the HCFMRP-USP. Telemonitoring and teleservice may be methods used for monitoring health conditions in patients with SB.