title: Relationships among functional outcome measures used for assessing children with ambulatory CP.
abstract: In ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP), practitioners often examine outcomes using measures related to functions necessary for daily life. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Dimensions D and E, Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) Parent and Child versions, Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) Walking subscale, Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), temporal-spatial gait parameters, and O(2) cost during ambulation were selected for study. Cross-sectional data were collected in a prospective multicenter study of 562 participants with CP (339 males, 223 females), between 4 and 18 years of age (mean age 11y 1mo). There were 240 classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I, 196 as Level II, and 126 as Level III. The tools that had the best interrelationships and underlying constructs predominately measured changes in physical function. These included portions of the FAQ, Parent PODCI, WeeFIM, and GMFM. GMFM Dimensions D and E exhibited a very strong relationship. Temporal-spatial gait parameters and O2 cost measures represented a different construct of physical function. The Child PODCI reports and both the Parent and Child PedsQL reports did not relate well to other measures, suggesting a pattern of answers not related to question content. The Parent PODCI, the FAQ Walking subscale, and GMFM Dimension E were found to be an appropriate minimum set of instruments for assessment of functional outcomes in patients with ambulatory CP.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospital for Children Houston, TX 77030, USA. esullivan@shrinenet.org
authors.forename: Elroy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Linton
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calmes
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oeffinger
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorton
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Chester
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tylkowski
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen