Validity of the Stage of Exercise Scale in Children with Rheumatologic Conditions

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rheumatology
• Exercise Science
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Assessing physical activity in children with chronic conditions is crucial for management.
• The Stages of Exercise Scale (SOES) is a tool used to measure exercise adoption.
• Validation of the SOES in pediatric rheumatologic populations is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the face, content, and construct validity of the SOES in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).
• To compare the SOES validity across different pediatric chronic conditions, including cystic fibrosis (CF).

Main Methods:

• Sixty-seven children and adolescents (ages 11-18) with JDM, JIA, or CF completed the SOES and other validated questionnaires.
• Physical activity was objectively measured using accelerometers.
• Statistical analyses included ANOVA and logistic modeling to assess construct validity.

Main Results:

• The SOES demonstrated significant differences across exercise stages, aligning with decisional balance and self-efficacy.
• No significant differences in SOES scores were found between disease groups (JDM, JIA, CF).
• Children in higher SOES stages engaged in more vigorous physical activity.

Conclusions:

• The SOES exhibits good face, content, and construct validity for children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases like JIA and JDM.
• The SOES is a reliable measure for assessing physical activity stages in pediatric rheumatology patients.
• Findings support the use of SOES in clinical and research settings for pediatric chronic conditions.