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Gross Motor Function Measure-66 Item Sets for use with infants and toddlers at high risk for cerebral palsy:
Natalie A Koziol1, Christiana D Butera2, Lin-Ya Hsu3
1Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Insights
The Gross Motor Function Measure-66 Item Set (GMFM-66-IS) shows strong construct validity and responsiveness in infants with or at high risk for cerebral palsy (CP). This measure is reliable for assessing gross motor skills in young children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Clinical Assessment Tools
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in young children.
- Accurate assessment tools are crucial for early intervention and tracking progress in children with CP.
- The Gross Motor Function Measure-66 Item Set (GMFM-66-IS) is a standardized measure for evaluating gross motor skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the construct validity and responsiveness of the GMFM-66-IS.
- To determine the suitability of the GMFM-66-IS for infants younger than 24 months with or at high risk for CP.
- To provide evidence for the reliable use of the GMFM-66-IS in clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- Integrative data analysis of secondary data from clinical trials and observational studies.
- Involved children with or at high risk for CP and typically developing children.
- GMFM-66-IS and comparator instruments (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third/Fourth Edition) were administered at baseline and 3 months.
Main Results:
- Strong correlations (r=0.83-0.88) were found between GMFM-66-IS and Bayley scores.
- Children with mild impairment showed higher GMFM-66-IS scores compared to those with more severe impairment.
- GMFM-66-IS demonstrated moderate responsiveness, with significant differences in change scores across different groups.
Conclusions:
- The GMFM-66-IS demonstrates strong construct validity for assessing gross motor function in infants with or at high risk for CP.
- The GMFM-66-IS shows moderate responsiveness, indicating its ability to detect changes in motor function over time.
- The findings support the use of the GMFM-66-IS as a reliable tool for this population.
Aim:
To evaluate the construct validity and responsiveness of the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 Item Set (GMFM-66-IS), a standardized criterion-referenced observational measure, for use with children younger than 24 months with or at high risk for cerebral palsy (CP).
Method:
Non-experimental integrative data analysis was performed on secondary data from three clinical trials involving children with or at high risk for CP (n = 79, 42 males, mean corrected age = 11.3 months [SD = 4.9]), and one observational study of typically developing children (n = 32, 14 males, mean age = 5.7 months [SD = 0.8]). The GMFM-66-IS and comparator instrument (gross motor subtest from the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition [Bayley-III] or Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Fourth Edition [Bayley-4], depending on the study) were administered at baseline and 3 months later. Comparator groups were based on neurological impairment, clinical rating of gross motor change, and CP status. Correlations (r) and regression-adjusted standardized mean differences (Hedges' g) were computed.
Results:
GMFM-66-IS and Bayley scores were correlated at baseline (r = 0.83), 3 months later (r = 0.88), and across time (r = 0.83). Children with mild impairment had higher mean GMFM-66-IS scores at baseline (g = 0.87) and 3 months later (g = 0.95). Children rated as demonstrating greater than expected gross motor change had larger mean GMFM-66-IS change scores than children demonstrating less than expected change (g = 0.62). Typically developing children had larger mean GMFM-66-IS change scores (g = 1.00).
Interpretation:
GMFM-66-IS scores were supported by evidence of strong construct validity and moderate responsiveness.
