Sonja Mensch

41 A systematic review of the literature The table shows that intra-rater reliability, inter-rater reliability and construct validity were most frequently evaluated, whereas none of the studies addressed cross- cultural validity and criterion validity. The methodological quality was poor in 35, fair in 7, good in 4 and excellent in 10 out of 56 sub-studies. Only for the LE85, MFM, and WeeFIM, (part of ) the studies had excellent or good methodological quality. Overall level of evidence for each instrument The overall level of evidence, synthesizing methodological quality and outcomes of all studies about that instrument, is presented for each psychometric property in Table 5. Strong levels of evidence were found for construct validity of LE85, MFM, and WeeFIM, but reliability studies were missing (LE85) or of poor quality for these instruments. Table 5. Synthesis of Quality rating per instrument Domain Reliability Validity Responsiveness Measurement property Instrument Internal con sistency Test-retest Intra-rater Inter-rater Measurement error Content Face Structural Construct Cross-cultural Criterion CLA ? ? GMFM + + + +/- MHFMS + + + + +/- + LE85 ++ ++ MFM ++ ? ? ? ? + TDMMT ? ? ? + VAB + + WeeFIM ++ + +++ ? Measurement property was rated* as: +++ or --- Strong evidence. Consistent findings in multiple studies of good methodological quality or in one study of excellent methodological quality ++ or -- Moderate evidence. Consistent findings in multiple studies of fair methodological quality or in one study of good methodological quality + or - Limited evidence. One study of fair methodological quality +/- Conflicting evidence. Conflicting findings ? Unknown evidence. Only studies of poor methodological quality * + = positive rating, - = negative rating. CLA =The Chailey Levels of Ability. GMFM= Gross Motor Function Measure. MHFMS =Modified Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale. LE 85 = Lower Extremity physical functioning and mobility skills. MFM = Motor Function Measure scale. TDMMT = Top Down Motor Milestone Test. VAB = Vulpe Assessment Battery. WeeFIM = Functional Independence Measure for Children