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Journal of Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine
Volume 1, Issue 1
December 07-08, 2017 Rome, Italy
4th Euro-Global Physiotherapy Congress 2017
Euro Physiotherapy 2017
Effects of an educational program for self-
management, on functional independence
of adolescents with spina bifida
Background: The number of children with spina bifida
(SB) who survived reaching adulthood increased
significantly and their adolescence transition is a major
concern. The purpose of this study is to develop and
evaluate an educational program that promotes self-
management competencies and facilitate their transition
to adulthood.
Methods: An intervention based on psychoeducational
strategies was embedded within a summer camp
experience (7 Sessions). 56 adolescents with SB,
aged between 10 to 18 years preformed the program
and assess their effect on functional independence,
self-concept and self-esteem. With a before (T1) and
after (T2 and follow-up T3) design, the analysis was
performed using the program IBM SPSS Statistics 20,
ANOVA repeated measures.
Results: The adolescents made significant gains
on functionality, cognitive and motor domains with
moderate to high effect sizes observed. In the motor
domain, we emphasize the improvement on self-care
and emptying dimension (bowel and bladder).
Conclusions: The program had greatest impact in the
motor domain of the functionality (self-care, elimination,
transfers), which remains six months later. This program
produces better effects on young people aged between
10 and 12 years without previous experience on camps,
regardless the gender, level of injury, presence of
hydrocephalus or the type of auxiliary gait devices they
use. In general, the results support that the experience
improves the self-management competences and the
functionality of youth with SB and, suggest that the
program was highly effective.
Biography
Maria Isabel Dias daCostaMalheiro is anAssistant Professor at theNursingCollege
of Lisbon, Child and Adolescent Department. She has completed her Doctorate in
Nursing at the Lisbon University, Master’s in Special Education, Faculty of Human
Motricity and Graduate Nurse, Specialist in Child and Pediatric Health Nursing.
She has started to work in the hospital since 1988, Neonatology, Pediatrics, Child
Development Center. She was the Member of the Spina Bifida Center at Garcia
de Orta Hospital until 2002. Since 2002, she has joined the academic career at
Nursing College of Lisbon as an Assistant Professor. She collaborates with the
Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Portuguese Association since 2002, was Vice-
President from 2005 to 2013. She was the Coordinator of the project training camp
- educational program for self-management on adolescents with spina bifida/spinal
cord injury 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Maria Isabel Dias da Costa Malheiro
Nursing College of Lisbon, Portugal
Maria Isabel Dias da Costa Malheiro, J Phys Ther Sports Med 2017