Article

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an English version of the Neuromuscular
(NM)-Score, a classification for patients with NM diseases in each of the 3 motor
function domains: D1, standing and transfers; D2, axial and proximal motor
function; and D3, distal motor function. DESIGN: Validation survey. SETTING:
Patients seen at a medical research center between June and September 2013.
PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients (N=42) aged 5 to 19 years with a confirmed or
suspected diagnosis of congenital muscular dystrophy. INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An English version of the NM-Score was
developed by a 9-person expert panel that assessed its content validity and
semantic equivalence. Its concurrent validity was tested against criterion
standards (Brooke Scale, Motor Function Measure [MFM], activity limitations for
patients with upper and/or lower limb impairments [ACTIVLIM], Jebsen Test, and
myometry measurements). Informant agreement between patient/caregiver
(P/C)-reported and medical doctor (MD)-reported NM scores was measured by
weighted kappa. RESULTS: Significant correlation coefficients were found between
NM scores and criterion standards. The highest correlations were found between
NM-score D1 and MFM score D1 (rho=-.944, P<.0001), ACTIVLIM (rho=-.895, P<.0001),
and hip abduction strength by myometry (rho=-.811, P<.0001). Informant agreement
between P/C-reported and MD-reported NM scores was high for D1 (kappa=.801; 95%
confidence interval [CI], .701-.914) but moderate for D2 (kappa=.592; 95% CI,
.412-.773) and D3 (kappa=.485; 95% CI, .290-.680). Correlation coefficients
between the NM scores and the criterion standards did not significantly differ
between P/C-reported and MD-reported NM scores. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and
physicians completed the English NM-Score easily and accurately. The English
version is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used in clinical practice
and research to describe the functional abilities of patients with NM diseases.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS