Implementation Strategies for Scaling Evidence-based Rehabilitation in Chronic Pediatric Conditions

Pediatric rehabilitation in the context of chronic diseases encompasses a diverse array of conditions such as cerebral palsy, cancer, cystic fibrosis, type 1 diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, congenital heart disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, sickle cell disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and epilepsy. Chronic conditions can affect motor development, cognition, and participation in everyday routines. Critically, early intervention for disabilities in children with chronic conditions are frequently hampered by delayed screening and diagnoses, limited access to pediatric rehabilitation specialists, and insufficient awareness among primary care and frontline providers. Such delays can contribute to preventable functional decline, reduced social and academic participation, and widening health disparities that can persist through adolescence and adulthood. This Research Topic aims to advance knowledge and best practices in the implementation of evidence-based screening, assessment, and rehabilitation intervention strategies for children with chronic conditions, with the overarching goal of reducing the time between symptom onset and access to effective rehabilitation. We seek to examine how practical tools, context-sensitive workflows, and models of interdisciplinary collaboration can break down barriers to timely identification and management of disability. Primary objectives include evaluating the effectiveness and scalability of implementation frameworks and early screening instruments, developing strategies for caregiver engagement, and promoting equitable delivery of rehabilitation services to children living with chronic health conditions.The scope focuses on the early identification and intervention for functional impairments linked to chronic conditions affecting children across clinical, home, and community environments. Emphasis is placed on the integration of evidence-based screening, rehabilitation, and implementation science to improve long-term outcomes for children with these conditions. To contribute to this effort, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Implementation and evaluation of early screening and assessment tools in chronic conditions affecting children• The impact of delayed identification on disease progression and outcomes in specific chronic conditions, including cerebral palsy, cancer, muscular dystrophies, cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and type 1 diabetes• Strategies to increase early detection and referral in primary care and community settings• Parent and caregiver engagement in the screening and early intervention process• Designing scalable workflows for integrating new screening tools into routine practice• Equity-oriented approaches to reduce disparities in early disability identification and timely intervention• Cross-disciplinary collaboration to support integrated rehabilitation in chronic pediatric populations• Leveraging digital health and patient registries to support ongoing developmental surveillanceWe encourage the submission of a wide range of article types, including original research articles, implementation reports, implementation studies, reviews, and perspectives, that provide concrete strategies or data supporting earlier disability detection and timely rehabilitation for children with chronic diseases. Topic editors: Catherine R Hoyt, Jewel Crasta, Angela Caldwell, Allison L'Hotta Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78391/implementation-strategies-for-scaling-evidence-based-rehabilitation-in-chronic-pediatric-conditions