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Table 1 Standardized interview and examination protocol

From: The unmet need for treatment of children with musculoskeletal impairment in Malawi

Elements

Definition

Diagnosis

Diagnosis categorized as: neurological, traumatic, congenital, metabolic, infective, or acquired non-traumatic non-infective. Within these categories an algorithm was created and used to give a specific diagnosis. Up to two diagnoses were permissible per each identified case of MSI [15].

Severity

Severity was determined using ICF parameters for the amount of function which was lost through the presence of the impairment. This was classified as “mild”, “moderate” or “severe” [13]. Severity was determined using the parameters for the percentage of function outlined in the WHO reference book International Classification of Functioning (ICF) [14]. A loss of function of 5–24% was mild, 25–49% was moderate and 50–90% was severe

Treatment received

Any known treatment given to the participant (medical or other) was recorded

Treatment needed

Treatment required by the participants was assessed according to Malawi standard treatment guideline.