title: Development of a movement quality measurement tool for children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric physical therapists assess the quantity and quality of children's motor skills. Several quantitative motor tests are currently available, but a concise measurement tool of observable movement quality (OMQ) is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop an OMQ measurement tool for children from the perspective of pediatric physical therapists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative, 3-phase study involving pediatric physical therapists was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first phase consisted of 7 semistructured interviews. The second phase comprised a structured meeting using a nominal group technique, with the interviewees required to identify the most relevant OMQ aspects. The third phase comprised a Delphi technique involving 61 pediatric physical therapy experts with the aim of achieving at least 80% agreement on relevance, terminology, and definitions of OMQ aspects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across all 3 phases, 32 aspects based on different theoretical constructs were considered. Fifteen aspects were included in the measurement. The pediatric physical therapy experts achieved at least 80% agreement on the definitions of 14 OMQ aspects: automated movements, asymmetry in movements, variation in movements, appropriate gross motor movements, fluency of movements, reduced muscle tone, increased muscle tone, involuntary movements, accuracy, slow/delayed movements, accelerated/abrupt movements, tremors, strength regulation, and stereotyped movements. The definition of appropriate fine motor movements achieved 75% agreement. This aspect was included because gross and fine motor movements are complementary. The aspects were scored using a 5-point Likert scale, with a total score ranging from 15 to 75 and with a higher score indicating a better OMQ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OMQ scale, a concise measurement tool with 15 defined aspects, was developed. Content validity was obtained, but before the OMQ scale can be used in clinical practice, studies on reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation, Internal Postal Code 818, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. a.janssen@reval.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Anjo J W M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Eline T W
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Diekema
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Dolder
authors.forename: Louis A A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kollée
authors.forename: Rob A B
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oostendorp
authors.forename: Maria W G
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nijhuis-van der Sanden
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D002648:Child; D003697:Delphi Technique; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D036301:Qualitative Research