Measuring mobility limitations in children with cerebral palsy: development, scalability, unidimensionality, and internal consistency of the mobility questionnaire, MobQues47.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a questionnaire that specifically and comprehensively measures mobility limitations in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to investigate certain psychometric properties (scalability, unidimensionality, internal consistency) of this questionnaire.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Private physical therapy practices and outpatient departments of hospitals and rehabilitation centers.


METHODS
Children with CP undergoing physical therapy or rehabilitation. The Mobility Questionnaire, 47-item (MobQues47), was completed by the mothers of these children (N=323; mean age +/- SD, 7.1+/-2.9y; 57% boys; Gross Motor Function Classification levels: I [48%], II [26%], III [19%], IV [7%]).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Mokken scale analysis was used to investigate (1) scalability, indicating that the items form a scale; (2) unidimensionality, indicating that the items measure only 1 concept; and (3) internal consistency, indicating the degree of interrelatedness of the items.


RESULTS
The MobQues47, made up of 47 items, was developed on the basis of 3 pilot studies and careful operationalization of the concept (or construct) of mobility limitations. The scalability (coefficient H=.70), unidimensionality, and internal consistency (coefficient rho=.99) of the MobQues47 were found to be very good.


CONCLUSIONS
The MobQues47 is a unidimensional scale with excellent internal consistency that can be used to measure caregiver-reported mobility limitations in children with CP.
Roorda
Leo D
LD
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. l.roorda@janvanbreemen.nl
Scholtes
Vanessa A
VA
van der Lee
Johanna H
JH
Becher
Jules
J
Dallmeijer
Annet J
AJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results