Reliability and construct validity of the Activities Scale for Kids in Italian children with cerebral palsy

Purpose To investigate internal consistency and construct validity of the of the Activities Scale for Kids performance (ASKp) in Italian children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 up to 2019 and consisted in the single self-administration of the Italian ASKp to 206 children aged 5-15, with unilateral or bilateral CP, classified on the basis of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Results The ASKp showed good internal consistency (Chronbach's alpha 0.91, 95% CI 0.89-0.93). It distinguished between children and adolescents (70.3 +/- 16.6 versus 83.0 +/- 18.0, respectively; p < 0.001), unilateral and bilateral CP clinical manifestations (82.5 +/- 13.6 versus 72.4 +/- 19.0, respectively; p = 0.002), children with and without intellectual disability (60.3 +/- 18.3 versus 77.2 +/- 17.3, respectively; p < 0.001). It also distinguished children using assistive devices for indoor mobility from children who did not use devices or those who use devices only for outdoor mobility (66.1 +/- 18.3 versus 83.6 +/- 12.8 and versus 80.4 +/- 17.4, respectively; both p < 0.001). Conclusions The ASKp could help integrate the perspective of children with CP in their rehabilitation process.

Automated summary

The study found that the ASKp has good internal consistency in Italian children with cerebral palsy and can differentiate between children of different ages, clinical manifestations, intellectual disability, and use of assistive devices.