Measuring mobility limitations in children with cerebral palsy: content and construct validity of a mobility questionnaire (MobQues).
OBJECTIVE
the objective of this study was to assess the validity of a mobility questionnaire (MobQues) that was developed to measure parent-reported mobility limitations in children with cerebral palsy (CP).


METHODS
the parents of 439 children with CP (256 males and 183 females; age range 2-18y; Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels I-IV) completed the mobility questionnaire (MobQues). To assess content validity, we linked all meaningful concepts of the MobQues items to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). To assess construct validity, we compared the total scores of the two versions of the MobQues (MobQues47 and MobQues28) according to GMFCS level, and determined Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) with the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66).


RESULTS
content validity was demonstrated by the fact that 46 of the 47 MobQues items were linked to categories in the 'Mobility' chapter of the ICF. Construct validity was demonstrated by the finding that MobQues scores decreased with increasing GMFCS levels (p<0.001). In a subgroup of 162 children, positive correlations were found between total scores and the GMFM-66 (MobQues47, r=0.75; MobQues28, r=0.67, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
the results of this study provide evidence supporting the content and construct validity of the MobQues as a measure of mobility limitation in children with CP.
van Ravesteyn
Nicolien T
NT
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Scholtes
Vanessa A
VA
Becher
Jules G
JG
Roorda
Leo D
LD
Verschuren
Olaf
O
Dallmeijer
Annet J
AJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000145:classification; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*