The Pediatric (Paediatric) Overall Performance Category (POPC) scale can be used to evaluate a child's level of functional ability and disability. It can be monitored over time to evaluate the impact of illness or the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. It has been used to assess outcome for children treated in the intensive care unit with serious illnesses.
Category |
Functioning |
Consciousness |
Activities of Daily Living |
POPC Score |
good overall performance |
healthy |
alert |
fully capable |
1 |
mild overall disability |
possibility of minor physical problem, still compatible with normal life |
conscious |
able to function independently |
2 |
moderate overall disability |
disability may be non-cerebral dysfunction alone or with cerebral dysfunction; disabled for competitive performance at school |
conscious |
able to function independently |
3 |
severe overall disability |
disability may be non-cerebral dysfunction alone or with cerebral dysfunction |
conscious |
dependent on others for support of activities of daily living |
4 |
coma or vegetative state |
|
any degree of coma without the presence of all brain death criteria |
totally dependent on others for support of activities of daily living |
5 |
brain death |
|
comatose with all of brain death criteria (apnea, areflexia, EEG silence |
NA |
6 |
after page 962, Levin (2000)
Some of the findings which may be found with coma or the vegetative state:
(1) unaware, even if awake in appearance
(2) unable to interact with environment
(3) cerebral unresponsiveness and no evidence of cortex function; not aroused by verbal stimuli
(4) may show some reflexive response, spontaneous eye opening, and/or sleep-wake cycles
Limitations:
• The scoring system would be of limited use to detect subtle clinical changes, although it does separate children into key outcome categories.
Purpose: To determine a child's level of functional ability using the Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC) Scale.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pedatrics
Objective: disability and performance
ICD-10: ,