Development, validation and reliability testing of a sensory outcome measure for hypoxia induced cerebral palsy children: A study Protocol

Abstract

Background: The motor disorders of cerebral palsy suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy are associated with sensory perception impairment along with other impairment like cognition, communication, aberrant behavior, brain stems, or a combination of these features. There are several scales available to evaluate muscle tone, balance, gait, motor power, gross motor function and intelligence but no scale is available till date to measure the sensory issues in children of HIE for Indian population.

Objectives:

The objectives of the study are to measure the sensory issues in children of HIE and to validate the scale for its content, reliability and minimum detectable change (MDC).

Methods:

In this study there are four phases: First phase is concerned with the development of scale item and its validation. Second phase is to check the reliability of the scale (test re-test reliability and inter rater reliability). In third phase we will estimate standard error of measurement (SEM) and in last fourth phase minimal detectable change (MDC) at 95% Confidence Interval (CI) will be checked.

Data analysis:

All the items in scale will be check for reliability and criterion-related validity test. Minimum 60 children with HIE will be evaluated with the scale for two times within two weeks to establish test-retest reliability. Cronbach’s alpha will be use for internal consistency and Intra class correlation coefficient for test retest reliability for determination of the degree of consistency of items present in the scale.

Conclusion:

The scale, thus formed will be the appropriate outcome measure for documenting patient outcome in India.