Further development of the response scales of the Acquired Brain Injury Challenge Assessment (ABI-CA)

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.

• Acquired brain injury
• children
• gross motor function
• locomotion
• motor skills
• outcome measures
• physical therapy
• response scales
• task performance and analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the children who participated in the ABI-CA assessments and their parents for the time that they gave and their interest in the study. We would also like to thank Holland Bloorview physical therapists (Viola Cheng, Sue Hayes, Tracy Lee, Ellie Wannamaker) and Robyn Ibey, lead author of the previous ABI-CA study, for assistance with the item revision process in Phase I. Many thanks to Gloria Lee and Celine Meschino, research assistants in Bloorview Research Institute, for assistance with recruitment, video-recording, data analysis and formatting this paper.