Applicability of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory in Norway

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Abstract
The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) is an instrument for evaluating functional performance in disabled children aged 6 months to 7.5 years. PEDI measures both performance and caregiver assistance in three domains: self-care, mobility and social function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of the American normative reference values of PEDI, to describe ability among Norwegian children. This was investigated in a sample of 52 non-disabled Norwegian children in the age range 1.0-5.9 years. The Norwegian sample scored significantly lower than the American reference values for Functional Skills; self-care (mean 39; p <0.001), Care-giver Assistance; self-care (mean 43; p <0.001), and Functional Skills; mobility (mean 43, p <0.001). For caregiver assistance, mobility, and for functional skills and caregiver assistance, social function, there was good agreement between observations in the Norwegian sample and PEDI reference values. The result calls for a larger study, from which Norwegian reference values for PEDI can be derived.