A Survey of Turkish Pediatric Physical Therapists

NCT07180017 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Survey of Turkish Pediatric PT
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 105
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

CP encompasses a group of persistent disorders of movement and posture development resulting from injury to the developing brain. Thanks to preventive measures and advances in obstetric and neonatal care, the incidence and severity of CP are currently decreasing in some countries, and the use of early diagnosis guidelines or protocols in follow-up units highlights the potential for faster recovery. A 2017 clinical review of early diagnosis tools, published by a group of international experts with best practice recommendations, called for earlier diagnosis through timely use of recommended tools. The diagnosis of CP is typically made by a physician between 12 and 24 months of age, but in some cases, it is delayed until 42 months. Early identification of a high risk of CP relies on a combination of a detailed patient history, developmental assessment, a structured and validated neurological examination or neuromotor assessment, and brain imaging studies. Conversely, the accurate and early use of key tools for early diagnosis can allow for much earlier detection of CP in infants younger than or older than 5 months.According to international guidelines, infants at high risk of CP should be monitored. This monitoring should be conducted by an interdisciplinary team, including a neonatologist, pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, pediatric physiotherapist, speech-language-swallowing therapist, and special education specialist. Pediatric physiotherapists are a crucial part of this team for developmental follow-up and rehabilitation. Therefore, it is important that pediatric physiotherapists in our country have sufficient awareness in this field, are equipped with various training programs, and reach international standards. This allows them to provide early guidance to families at risk of CP, facilitate early diagnosis of CP, and initiate treatment.The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of early diagnostic assessment tools in pediatric physiotherapy practice in Turkey for infants aged 0-2 years at risk for cerebral palsy (CP). Best practice guidelines worldwide recommend the timely use of key assessment tools to reduce the age at which CP is diagnosed. In this context, a digital survey administered to pediatric physiotherapists in Spain, translated into Turkish with the necessary permissions, will be used to determine the awareness levels of physiotherapists in Turkey.

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy (CP); Survey; Detection; Pediatric Physiotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Digital survey for pediatric physiotherapists(PTs)

  A purpose-built digital survey consisting of 45 multiple-choice questions with five thematic sections. The survey used in this context will be a survey administered digitally to pediatric physiotherapists in Spain, translated into Turkish with the necessary permissions. This survey will be administered via Google Forms.

  DAY1

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Demographic Information

  DAY1

Study Arms (1)

1

All pediatric physiotherapists working in different cities in Turkey, reached through social media under the leadership of the therapists of the Developmental Physiotherapy and Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit of Gazi University Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

All pediatric physiotherapists working in different cities in Turkey, reached through social media under the leadership of the therapists of the Developmental Physiotherapy and Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit of Gazi University Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

You may qualify if:

• All literate pediatric physiotherapists between the ages of 25-50 working in different provinces in Turkey

You may not qualify if:

• Physiotherapists with no experience in pediatric physiotherapy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kahramanmaraş Sütçü imam University

Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubat, 46100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Damage, Chronic; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Study Officials

• hatice adıgüzel tat, Associate Professor

  Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• umut apaydın, Asisstant Prof

  Karadeniz Technic University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Sabiha Bezgin, Asisstant Prof

  Mustafa Kemal University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Bulent Elbasan, Proffessor

  Gazi University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 5, 2025
• First Posted: September 18, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2024
• Study Completion: April 30, 2024
• Last Updated: September 23, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)