title: Gait and Lower Limb Observation of Paediatrics (GALLOP): development of a consensus based paediatric podiatry and physiotherapy standardised recording proforma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paediatric gait and lower limb assessments are frequently undertaken in podiatry and physiotherapy clinical practice and this is a growing area of expertise within Australia. No concise paediatric standardised recording proforma exists to assist clinicians in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to develop a gait and lower limb standardised recording proforma guided by the literature and consensus, for assessment of the paediatric foot and lower limb in children aged 0-18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expert Australian podiatrists and physiotherapists were invited to participate in a three round Delphi survey panel using the online Qualtrics(©) survey platform. The first round of the survey consisted of open-ended questions on paediatric gait and lower limb assessment developed from existing templates and a literature search of standardised lower limb assessment methods. Rounds two and three consisted of statements developed from the first round responses. Questions and statements were included in the final proforma if 70 % or more of the participants indicated consensus or agreement with the assessment method and if there was support within the literature for paediatric age-specific normative data with acceptable reliability of outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 17 of the 21 (81 %) participants who completed three rounds of the survey. Consensus was achieved for 41 statements in Round one, 54 statements achieved agreement in two subsequent rounds. Participants agreed on 95 statements relating to birth history, developmental history, hip measurement, rotation of the lower limb, ankle range of motion, foot posture, balance and gait. Assessments with acceptable validity and reliability were included within the final Gait and Lower Limb Observation of Paediatrics (GALLOP) proforma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GALLOP proforma is a consensus based, systematic and standardised way to collect information and outcome measures in paediatric lower limb assessment. This standardised recording proforma will assist professions to collect information in a standardised format based on best evidence assessment methods whilst aiding consistency in communication between health professionals.
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Health-Community Health, PO Box 52, Frankston, Victoria 3199 Australia.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cranage
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, PO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001 Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Banwell
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Health-Community Health, PO Box 52, Frankston, Victoria 3199 Australia ; School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, PO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001 Australia ; School of Physiotherapy, Monash University, PO Box 527, Frankston, Victoria 3199 Australia.
authors.forename: Cylie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000592:standards*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000592:standards*; D011032:Podiatry / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Assessment; Delphi; Lower limb; Paediatric; Physiotherapy; Podiatry