Citation

McArthur C, Venkatesh S, Warren D, Pringle D, Doerr T, Margaret Salbach N, Kirkwood G, Wright V. Brain Inj. 2013; 27(11): 1271-1280.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario , Canada .

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/02699052.2013.809551

PMID

24020440

Abstract

Primary objective: To revise the scaling of the response sets of the Acquired Brain Injury Challenge Assessment (ABI-CA) through expert input and determination of empirically based cut-points. Research design: A measurement development study with a content validity focus. METHODS: Response option wording was revised through consultation with six physiotherapists with paediatric ABI expertise. Twenty-nine typically-developing children performed the ABI-CA and empirically-based cut-points for item-specific response options were derived from their time/distance/repetition results (SD values) as benchmark values. Movement quality considerations (compensatory movements) were identified from expert consultation/ABI-CA video observation and built into revised response options. The revised ABI-CA was pilot-tested with four children with ABI, aged 7-15 years, for a feasibility check. RESULTS: Nineteen of the 23 items' response scales were revised based on experts' feedback and empirically-based cut-points replaced the previous arbitrarily-determined cut-points. Compensatory movement considerations were re-defined in nine items. The mean score of the refined ABI-CA was 70.0% (SD = 18.5) with four children with ABI. CONCLUSION: The new response options in the ABI-CA appeared suitable for testing high-functioning children with ABI and the mid-range mean score in this pilot sample indicates its potential to measure change. Recommendations are outlined for final ABI-CA amendments before large-scale validation.

Language: en