Affiliations: College of Health Professions, Temple University,
Philadelphia, PA, USA | Health and Disability Research Institute, School of
Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA | Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA,
USA | Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia, PA,
USA | Shriners Hospitals for Children, Springfield, MA,
USA | Shriners Hospitals for Children, Montreal,
Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Carole A. Tucker, Department of
Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, Temple University, 3307 North
Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Tel.: +1 215 707 4877; Fax: +1 215
707 7500; E-mail: tuckerc@temple.edu
Abstract: The purposes of this paper are to: 1) present a conceptual framework
that supports development of a computer adaptive test (CAT) outcome measure of
physical functioning for children with cerebral palsy; 2) illustrate the
development and refinement of an item bank for use in the CAT; and 3) describe
the intended application of these newly developed items in a CAT platform.
Improvement in physical functioning is one of the most important developmental
and rehabilitative outcomes for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Computer
adaptive testing technology provides means to improve outcome measures. We
adopted a conceptual framework appropriate to support a CAT of physical
functioning consisting of 4 sub-domains: lower extremity skills, upper
extremity skills, physical activity, and global physical health. Review of
existing tests and measures of physical function, expert clinician review, and
cognitive testing were used to identify, develop and refine sets of items (item
banks) that reflect the breadth of each sub-domain. These item banks will be
used to develop contemporary parent-report instruments by application of Item
Response Theory (IRT) analyses, leading to a CAT outcome measure. Such CAT
approaches can efficiently assess broad areas of physical functioning across a
wide age-range and levels of severity of children with CP.
