Spilamberto

This research aims to develop and validate a new questionnaire to help caregivers assess hip pain in pediatric patients with quadriplegia who are unable to communicate their pain independently. Quadriplegic patients, often children with cerebral palsy classified at levels IV-V of the Gross Motor Function Classification System, face complex health challenges including frequent, often under-recognized pain that significantly impacts their quality of life and daily functioning. Hip pain is a common and serious issue in this group, linked to musculoskeletal problems and joint dislocations, but current pain assessment tools are not specific or adequate for these patients. Researchers will create the Non-Ambulatory Hip Pain questionnaire using input from a panel of 10 experts, consisting of clinicians and parents, through a Delphi process. This questionnaire will then be tested on 100 caregivers of pediatric quadriplegic patients. Caregivers will complete the questionnaire within two weeks following a clinic visit where a physiatrist assesses the patient's hip pain using the Revised Face Legs Activity Cry and Consolability (r-FLACC) scale. The study focuses on validating the questionnaire's content and reliability compared to the r-FLACC assessment. Participants will include experts who first answer open questions and then rate questionnaire items via a Likert scale, and caregivers who complete the questionnaire after their child's visit. The study measures the clarity and reliability of the questionnaire and compares it to clinical pain assessments. This process helps ensure the new tool accurately identifies hip pain to support better care for these non-verbal pediatric patients. Caregiver input will be collected within two weeks post-visit, with the study aiming to improve pain recognition and management in this vulnerable population.