TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and validation of a new short and simple measure of physical function for juvenile idiopathic arthritis
AU - Filocamo, Giovanni
AU - Sztajnbok, Flavio
AU - Cespedes-Cruz, Adriana
AU - Magni-Manzoni, Silvia
AU - Pistorio, Angela
AU - Viola, Stefania
AU - Ruperto, Nicolino
AU - Buoncompagni, Antonella
AU - Loy, Anna
AU - Martini, Alberto
AU - Ravelli, Angelo
PY - 2007/8/15
Y1 - 2007/8/15
N2 - Objective. To develop and validate a new short and simple measure of physical function in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods. The Juvenile Arthritis Functionality Scale (JAFS) is a 15-item questionnaire that explores physical function in 3 body areas (lower limbs, hand/wrist, and upper segment). Validation of the Italian version of the instrument was accomplished by evaluating 211 consecutive JIA patients ages 2.2-18 years. The instrument's feasibility, face and content validity, construct and discriminative ability, internal consistency, interrater reliability, and responsiveness to clinical change were examined. JAFS psychometric properties were compared with those of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ). Results. The JAFS was found to be feasible and to possess both face and content validity. The JAFS score correlated with most of the other JIA outcome measures in the range predicted, thereby demonstrating good construct validity, and discriminated well among different levels of disability. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.82. The intraclass correlation coefficients between raters (mothers, fathers, and children) and between reported and observed level of function ranged from 0.65 to 0.84. The JAFS revealed fair responsiveness, with a standardized response mean ranging from 0.42 to 0.56. Comparison with the C-HAQ indicated that the JAFS may be superior in terms of construct validity and reliability, and at least as good in terms of discriminant validity and responsiveness. Conclusion. The JAFS exhibited good reliability, construct validity, and discriminative ability and fair responsiveness, and is therefore a valid instrument for the assessment of physical function in children with JIA.
AB - Objective. To develop and validate a new short and simple measure of physical function in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods. The Juvenile Arthritis Functionality Scale (JAFS) is a 15-item questionnaire that explores physical function in 3 body areas (lower limbs, hand/wrist, and upper segment). Validation of the Italian version of the instrument was accomplished by evaluating 211 consecutive JIA patients ages 2.2-18 years. The instrument's feasibility, face and content validity, construct and discriminative ability, internal consistency, interrater reliability, and responsiveness to clinical change were examined. JAFS psychometric properties were compared with those of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ). Results. The JAFS was found to be feasible and to possess both face and content validity. The JAFS score correlated with most of the other JIA outcome measures in the range predicted, thereby demonstrating good construct validity, and discriminated well among different levels of disability. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.82. The intraclass correlation coefficients between raters (mothers, fathers, and children) and between reported and observed level of function ranged from 0.65 to 0.84. The JAFS revealed fair responsiveness, with a standardized response mean ranging from 0.42 to 0.56. Comparison with the C-HAQ indicated that the JAFS may be superior in terms of construct validity and reliability, and at least as good in terms of discriminant validity and responsiveness. Conclusion. The JAFS exhibited good reliability, construct validity, and discriminative ability and fair responsiveness, and is therefore a valid instrument for the assessment of physical function in children with JIA.
KW - Disability
KW - Functional assessment
KW - Health outcomes
KW - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
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U2 - 10.1002/art.22900
DO - 10.1002/art.22900
M3 - Article
C2 - 17665481
AN - SCOPUS:34547788652
VL - 57
SP - 913
EP - 920
JO - Arthritis care and research : the official journal of the Arthritis Health Professions Association
JF - Arthritis care and research : the official journal of the Arthritis Health Professions Association
SN - 0893-7524
IS - 6
ER -