Assessments Used to Diagnose Developmental Coordination Disorder: Do Their Underlying Constructs Match the Diagnostic Criteria?

ABSTRACT

This study examined the constructs underlying the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (M-ABC-2), Bruninks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-2 (VABS-2) using the framework of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health—Child Youth version (ICF-CY) and the diagnostic criteria of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Two independent raters coded and matched items to ICF-CY codes as per the eight ICF linking rules developed by Cierza and colleagues. Content density and inter-rater reliability were also calculated. The majority of codes assigned to the M-ABC-2 and BOTMP related to body functions (54% and 64% respectively). For the VABS-2, 91% of codes pertained to activities and participation. The M-ABC-2, BOTMP, and the VABS-2 emphasize the ICF-CY constructs differently. The VABS-2 may be useful in the evaluation of performance of daily life activities and participation in children with DCD.

KEYWORDS. :

• Construct validity
• developmental coordination disorder
• diagnosis
• disability and health—child youth version
• international classification of functioning
• vineland adaptive behavior scale

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Vasiliki Darsaklis, BSc OT, MSc Rehabilitation Science, is an Occupational Therapist at the Shriners Hospitals for Children –Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and a Research Assistant in the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. Laurie M. Snider, PhD, OT is Associate Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and a Research Associate for the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), and at the Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Annette Majnemer, PhD, OT, is Professor and Director of the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Research Associate for the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR) and for the Montreal Children's Hospital. McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, Pediatric Neurology Division, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Barbara Mazer, PhD, OT, is Assistant Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Research Associate for the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.