Psychometric properties of the Activities Scale for Kids-performance after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adolescents and children : Results of a prospective study on behalf of the German-Austrian-Swiss GVHD Consortium

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Activities Scale for Kids (ASK): reliability, validity and the Rasch model

AIMS

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Activities Scale for Kids capability (ASKc) and ASK performance (ASKp) questionnaires.

DESIGN

It includes an analysis of different types of reliability (internal consistency, test-retest, inter-rater, Rasch model) and validity (convergent and discriminant) values.

SETTINGS

The sample was recruited in schools, associations and one hospital in Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

The main sample comprised 448 children (114 with disabilities); and 96 parents of the group of 114 children with disabilities, along with 2 therapists.

METHODS AND PROCEDURE

Children with physical disabilities completed questionnaires at two different time points; while healthy children only once. Both ASK questionnaires were also administered to parents. Therapists observed 69 children in 15 of the 30 activities listed in the ASKc.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

ASKc and ASKp were used to measure physical disability among children. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), The Screening For and Promotion of Health-Related Quality of Life in Childrenand Adolescents - a European Public Health perspective (KIDSCREEN), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) were used to analyse convergent validity.

RESULTS

Excellent values were obtained for the reliability of the scale. Internal consistency was >0.95 (Cronbach's α) for both questionnaires. The intraclass correlation coefficient test-retest reliability was 0.94 (ASKc) and 0.93 (ASKp). Correlations between parents' and children's scores were 0.91(ASKc) and 0.90 (ASKp); and the correlation between therapists' and children's scores was 0.78. The Rasch analysis indicated that the Spanish version had a unidimensional structure. Furthermore, the results revealed adequate validity indices. Both ASK questionnaires correlated significantly with the CHAQ, three dimensions of the KIDSCREEN and the GMFCS, MACS and FMS. Finally, children without disabilities had higher ASKc and ASKp scores than children with disabilities (p=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Both the ASKc and the ASKp versions are reliable and valid instruments that can be used to measure the capabilities of Spanish-speaking children, whose responses also demonstrate their own reliability as informants of the impact of disability on the activities of daily living.

Cross cultural adaptation and validation of Nepali Version of Activity Scale for Kids (ASK)

Background

Activity Scale for Kids (ASK) is self reported, widely used tool to measure the physical disability in children aged 5–15 years. It has two versions; ASK-performance version and ASK-capability version, both with excellent psychometric properties in English and other translated languages. However, the tool is not available in Nepali. The aim of our study is to translate, culturally adapt and validate the tool in the context of the Nepali population.

Methods

A standard translation guideline was used to translate both the versions of ASK tool into the Nepali language. One hundred and two participants were assessed to establish the reliability and validity of the tool. Internal consistency and test retest reliability was established using cronbach’s alpha and intra class correlation coefficient. Validity was established by three methods; ceiling and floor effects, group discriminations, and comparing the results of ASK with the Nepali version of KINDL.

Results

The mean age of the sample participants were 12.74 years (SD 2.2). The internal consistency and test retest reliability for both the Nepali versions of ASK was significant at 0.98 and 0.94 respectively. The tool had a negligible ceiling effect (< 5%) but a moderate floor effect (ASKp-Np 7.8% and ASKc-Np 8.8%). It was able to discriminate between the mobility aid required for moving inside and outside the home environment. Moderate correlation was observed between the both the Nepali versions of ASK and the total score of KINDL (r = 0.5).

Conclusions

Nepali version of ASK is reliable and valid tool to measure physical disability in the Nepali pediatric population.

Analysis of self-reported activities of daily living, motor performance and physical activity among children and adolescents with cancer: Baseline data from a randomised controlled trial assessed shortly after diagnosis of leukaemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma

OBJECTIVE

Cancer diagnosis, treatment side effects and physical inactivity can lead to reduced muscle strength. Patients undergoing acute treatment experience many burdens that can restrict their mobility and autonomy, leading to limited independence and loss of resources to cope with everyday tasks. In this work, we analyse the status quo and potential influencing factors for the accomplishment of activities of daily living (ADLs) shortly after cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

We recruited participants ages 4-18 years diagnosed with acute leukaemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. For the baseline analysis, we assessed (1) physical function limitations using the Activities Scale for Kids©, (2) exercise-related ADLs simulated with the Functional ADL Screen, (3) motor performance using the Motor Performance in Paediatric Oncology test and (4) physical activity (PA) level measured using an accelerometer.

RESULTS

We conducted the baseline assessment 19.2 ± 12.6 days post-diagnosis in 41 patients. All participants reported functional limitations in ADLs and PA. Motor performance was reduced for all abilities. Cumulative steroid dose was negatively correlated with hand grip strength (r = -0.50, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Shortly after diagnosis of paediatric cancer, patients experience various physical impairments that can be counteracted with regular, instructed exercise interventions.