title: Computer adaptive test approach to the assessment of children and youth with brachial plexus birth palsy.
abstract: This study examined the psychometric properties of item pools relevant to upper-extremity function and activity performance and evaluated simulated 5-, 10-, and 15-item computer adaptive tests (CATs). In a multicenter, cross-sectional study of 200 children and youth with brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP), parents responded to upper-extremity (n = 52) and activity (n = 34) items using a 5-point response scale. We used confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, ordinal logistic regression, item maps, and standard errors to evaluate the psychometric properties of the item banks. Validity was evaluated using analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results show that the two item pools have acceptable model fit, scaled well for children and youth with BPBP, and had good validity, content range, and precision. Simulated CATs performed comparably to the full item banks, suggesting that a reduced number of items provide similar information to the entire set of items.
authors: Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, School of Health Professions, 901 Walnut Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Maryjane.mulcahey@jefferson.edu
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Mulcahey
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Merenda
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Tian
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Kozin
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: James
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Gogola
authors: Pengsheng
authors: P
authors: Ni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003201:Computers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D062072:Patient Acuity; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*