title: Item test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the School Outcomes Measure (SOM).
abstract: The School Outcomes Measure (SOM) is a minimal data set designed to measure outcomes of students who receive school-based occupational therapy and physical therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine item test-retest reliability and the responsiveness to change of the SOM. Thirty-two occupational therapists and physical therapists collected data on 73 students, age 3-21 years, stratified into two groups based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System: those with mild/moderate functional limitations (Levels I, II, III) and those with severe functional limitations (Levels IV, V). Weighted kappa statistics (0.68-1.0) indicate good to excellent item test-retest reliability. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that the SOM is responsive to change in children with mild/moderate functional limitations but is less responsive to change in children with severe functional limitations. The findings support the use of the SOM to measure outcomes for students with mild/moderate functional limitations as well as enabling program evaluation of therapy services provided in school settings. More research is needed to evaluate responsiveness in students with severe functional limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Allied Health, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. Sandra-arnold@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Sandra H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Irene R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: McEwen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D009825:Oklahoma; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index