title: Construct validity and responsiveness of Movakic: An instrument for the evaluation of motor abilities in children with severe multiple disabilities.
abstract: Movakic is a newly developed instrument for measurement of motor abilities in children with severe multiple disabilities, with a satisfactory feasibility and content validity and good inter-observer and test-retest reliability. The objective of this study was to investigate its construct validity and responsiveness to change. Sixty children with severe multiple disabilities (mean age 7.7 years, range 2-16) were measured using Movakic six times during 18 months. Construct validity was assessed by correlating Movakic scores with expert judgment. In order to assess responsiveness, scores during 3-months intervals were compared (mean score-changes and intraclass correlations) during which some children experienced meaningful events influencing motor abilities and during which others experienced no such event. Forty-five percent of children had a lower cognitive development level than 6-month, 52% had Gross Motor Function Classification System level V and 37% had level IV. For 27 children all measurements were completed, six children dropped out. Construct validity was good (r=0.50-0.71). Responsiveness was demonstrated by significantly larger score changes after events than when such events did not occur. Movakic is a valid instrument for measuring motor abilities in children with severe multiple disabilities. Results suggest responsiveness to change in motor abilities after meaningful events.
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: Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre, The Netherlands; Stichting Wetenschap Balans, 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
authors.affiliation: University for Professionals for Paediatric Physical Therapy, AVANSplus, Breda, The Netherlands; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School for Public Health and Primary care CAPHR, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eugène A A
authors.initials: EAA
authors.lastname: Rameckers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Cerebral palsy GMFCS IV-V; Evaluative instrument; Motor abilities; Movakic; Severe multiple disabilities; Validity