Development and field testing of a neuro psychomotor multidimensional grid for the assessment of children with cns tumor

Abstract

Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors are the most common pediatric solid tumor and development neuro psychomotor (DNPM) therapy can contribute to the rehabilitation of these children. This paper describes the development of a DNPM multidimensional assessment grid for children with CNS tumor (DNPM-CNS grid).

The development process included 4 phases: (P1) literature review and grid development (Version 1.0), (P2) two rounds consultations with experts (Version 1.1 and 2.0), (P3) field testing, (P4) final revision (Version 3.0).

(P1) The DNPM-CNS grid was developed based on previous tools and manuals and on clinical experience with this patient population. (P2) A total of 52 questionnaires were filled in by experts about relevance of assessment areas, pertinence, comprehensibility and feasibility of the grid. Average scores ranged from 7.6 to 10. (P3) At case level, good inter-rater agreement scores (78%) and limited non-evaluability rates (18%) emerged. At item level, 27% of items reached high disagreement and 26% high not-evaluability rates. The qualitative assessment was judged clinically useful for planning the neuro-oncology rehabilitation treatment and a good feasibility of the DNPM-CNS grid emerged both for preschool and school-age children. (P4) The final version of the grid consists of 8 assessment areas with 133 items.

The DNPM-CNS grid is a comprehensive tool that can guide the overall DNPM assessment in a limited amount of time. It can be used as a screening tool to customize more specific assessments. Further research is needed to better characterize grid psychometric properties.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08880018.2021.1948648 .

Keywords:

• Development neuro psychomotor therapy
• grid
• CNS tumor
• pediatric

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to sincerely thank the university professors, Dr. Giovanni Vismara, Dr. Anna Colombo, Dr. Nico Palermo and the undergraduates of the DNPM therapy Degree Course of the University of Milan, the physiotherapists and physicians of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Dr. Francesca Rossi and the therapists of the AIEOP rehabilitation working group. We are thankful to Dr. Veronica Saletti, Dr. Cristina Bizzoca, Dr. Cristina Posio, Dr. Laura Margaroli and to caregivers who participated with kind avalability.

Conflict of interest statements

The author declare that there is no conflict of interest. These study was supported by Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy. The funders of the study had no role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation nor in writing and/or publication of the report.