Development and validation of a WHO ICF compliant hand and upper limb assessment tool for children: The Reach Out questionnaire

• Published in: Journal of hand therapy 2023-10, Vol.36 (4), p.1000-1006
• Main Authors: Ma, Yangmyung, Aslam, Riffat, Jester, Andrea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age groups; Assessment; Child; Children; Classification; Confidence intervals; Congenital diseases; Congenital hand; Disability Evaluation; Domains; Evaluation; Humans; Outcome measure; Patients; Pediatric hand; Pediatrics; Pilot projects; Positive feedback; Questionnaire; Questionnaires; Reliability; Reproducibility of Results; Research ethics; Rheumatology; Statistical analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Upper Extremity; World Health Organization
• ISSN: 0894-1130; 1545-004X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jht.2023.03.005

Current tools for evaluating hand and upper limb function in children do not represent all domains of the World Health Organization International Classification of Disability, Functioning and Health (ICF) framework and may not capture an accurate progression or regression of function over time. Based on this framework, we have developed an assessment tool (Reach Out) to evaluate function in children aged from 2 to 16 years following consultation with an advisory panel of specialists. Primary clinical study. Construct validity along with test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability and sensitivity to change have all been analyzed to validate the Reach Out assessment tool. The assessment tool has been validated in a total of 231 patients. Significant construct validity of 0.64 (P  0.8 for most domains in most age groups. Test re-retest scores showed that the questionnaire was reliable with most domains of the questionnaire achieving high scores of reliability (P ≤ .03). We also received positive feedback from participants and parents. The use of this new tool will help identify both progression and regression of function, allowing a more tailored and holistic approach to treatment in children with conditions affecting the hand and upper limb through the incorporation of International Classification of Disability, Functioning and Health domains. This tool is quicker to complete and can be applied to a wide range of ages and diagnostic groups compared to previous assessment tools. •Development of an assessment tool (Reach Out) that evaluates hand and upper limb function in children aged 2-16 years following consultation with an advisory panel of specialists and based on the World Health Organization International Classification of Disability, Functioning and Health framework.•The assessment tool was validated in 231 patients by analyzing construct validity, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and sensitivity to change.•Results indicate statistically significant validity and reliability, and thus this tool can help identify the progression or regression of function in children with conditions affecting the hand and upper limb.