Sensitivity and responsiveness of the modified Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: an experimental retrospective study

Details

Supervisors

Bleyenheuft, Yannick ; Araneda Oyaneder, Rodrigo

Faculty

Faculté des sciences de la motricité

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de la motricité, orientation générale

Abstract

The original version of the Jebsen Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) only assesses the time to complete the test (speed), disregarding the amount of objects handled (accuracy). However, the speed alone does not represent a complete measure of an execution. The use of the speed and accuracy could improve the assessment of the performance in this test but could also modify its psychometric characteristics. A modified JTTHF considering this two component of the performance was tested. The aim of the study was to develop norms aiming to compare the original and the modified scores of JTTHF in typical developing children (TDC), and to test the sensibility and responsiveness of the modified scores in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). In this retrospective study, 169 TDC and 25 children with UCP were assessed. Age-related changes of both scores of the test were evaluated in TDC while children with UCP were assessed before and after an intensive intervention. Our results confirmed an age-related improvement for both scores in TDC. For children with UCP, significant differences were observed after the intervention for the dominant hand, for both scores. For the non-dominant hand, only the original score showed a significant difference. The norms found in this study can be used as reliable norms. Moreover, the modified score is more representative of the performance assessed with the JTTHF than the original one because the new score considers the speed and the accuracy.