SEVGİ ESRA ÖZDEMİR TEKEŞ, YUZLEM GYUNER SİDZHİMLİ, MEHMET TEKEŞ, BİRKAN SONEL TUR, ŞEHİM KUTLAY
Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası - 2023;76(4):310-315
Objectives: Prohibitions and precautions implemented due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have disrupted children with cerebral palsy (CP) from accessing special education, rehabilitation and medical care. This study aimed to determine the changes and problems of children with CP regarding health and special education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Hundred children were included with CP who were followed up with a diagnosis of CP in the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit. Hundred patients aged 0-18 years, who accepted to participate, were included between January 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022. Afterwards, questions were asked to the parents within the scope of the questionnaire consisting of 25 open- and close-ended questions. Results: Hundred children with CP [47 female, 53 male; mean age 7.4 (2-16 years)] were included. It was determined that 19% of children had COVID-19 infection and only 2 children had impaired functional status. It was determined that 38% of children could not continue special education, but 81% could go to regular outpatient clinic control. It was observed that 31 (31%) children needed botulinum toxin injection and only 17 children were injected. It was noted that 92% of the participants had internet access at home, but only 2 (2%) had knowledge about telemedicine or telerehabilitation. In this process, it was seen that 44% of the participants continued their home exercises every day and 30% of them performed more than 3 days a week. Conclusion: It was determined that, pediatric patients with CP who needed special education and rehabilitation were affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Difficulty in accessing interventional procedures such as botulinum toxin injection, special education services and the use of telerehabilitation were identified as the most affected areas. This pandemic has taught us that we should include alternative approaches such as telemedicine and telerehabilitation in the rehabilitation program to minimize these effects.
