This study describes developmental and service transitions during a 3-year period among young people with cerebral palsy CP as measured by the Rotterdam Transition Profile RTP and evaluates the test-retest reliability of the RTP.
The RTP is a questionnaire developed to classify phases of transition across nine participation domains. A three-step design was applied: Step I consisted of a translation and test-retest reliability study of the RTP, Step II was a comparison of independence between youth with and without CP and Step III was a follow-up survey of youth with CP describing changes of independence after a 3-year transition period.
Twenty-six participants had epilepsy and 13 had gastrostomy. The test-retest study of the RTP showed excellent reliability Kw 0. At baseline Step II , the reference group was significantly more independent than the youth with CP in all the participation domains. At the 3-year follow-up Step III , the levels of independence had increased significantly for all the participation domains in the youth with CP except for transportation and leisure. These individuals were significantly less independent than those who self-reported, both at baseline and at follow-up.
In conclusion, the excellent test-retest results support the use of the RTP as a tool for classifying phases of transition among youth with CP. The youth with CP were significantly less independent than their typically developing peers at baseline, yet increased their independence during a 3-year period.
Those who self-reported to the RTP were generally more independent than those who proxy-reported, which supports the need to distinguish between the service needs of subgroups during the transition phase.
