title: Instruments for the evaluation of motor abilities for children with severe multiple disabilities: A systematic review of the literature.
abstract: Based on a systematic review, psychometric characteristics of currently available instruments on motor abilities of children with disabilities were evaluated, with the aim to identify candidates for use in children with severe multiple (intellectual and motor) disabilities. In addition, motor abilities are essential for independent functioning, but are severely compromised in these children. The methodological quality of all studies was evaluated with the Consensus Based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Checklist; overall levels of evidence per instrument were based on the Cochrane Back Review Group strategy. As a result, 18 studies with a total of eight instruments, developed for children with cerebral palsy (CLA, GMFM-88 and LE85), spinal muscular atrophy (MHFMS), neuromuscular diseases (MFM), disabilities 0-6 years (VAB, WeeFIM), and one developed specifically for children with severe multiple disabilities (TDMMT) were found. Strong levels of evidence were found for construct validity of LE85 and MFM and for responsiveness of WeeFIM, but reliability studies of these instruments had a limited methodological quality. Up to now studies of the TDMMT resulted in limited and unknown evidence for structural validity due to the poor methodological quality of reliability studies. In a next step, the clinical suitability of the instruments for children with severe multiple disabilities will be evaluate.
authors.affiliation: Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre, The Netherlands; Ipse de Bruggen Centre of Expertise in Intellectual Disabilities, The Netherlands; University for Professionals for Paediatric Physical Therapy, AVANSplus, Breda, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.mensch@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Sonja M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mensch
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, The Netherlands; University for Professionals for Paediatric Physical Therapy, AVANSplus, Breda, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eugène A A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rameckers
authors.affiliation: Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre, The Netherlands; Prisma Foundation, Waalwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Echteld
authors.affiliation: Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Heleen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Evenhuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Children; Instrument evaluation; Motor abilities; Psychometrics; Severe multiple disabilities; Systematic review