Article

OBJECTIVE: To develop a classification for neuromuscular disease patients in each
of the three motor function domains (D1: standing and transfers; D2: axial and
proximal function; D3: distal function). METHODS: A draft
classification was developed by a study group and then improved by qualitative
validation studies (according to the Delphi method) and quantitative validation
studies (content validity, criterion validity and inter-rater reliability). A total of 448 patients with genetic neuromuscular diseases participated in the
studies. RESULTS: On average, it took 6.3minutes to rate a patient. The
inter-rater agreement was good when the classification was based on patient
observation or an interview with the patient (Cohen's kappa=0.770, 0.690 and
0.642 for NM-Score D1, D2 and D3 domains, respectively). Stronger correlations
(according to Spearman's coefficient) with the respective "gold standard"
classifications were found for NM-Score D1 (0.86 vs. the Vignos Scale and -0.88
vs. the Motor Function Measure [MFM]-D1) and NM-Score D2 (-0.7 vs. the Brooke
Scale and 0.64 vs. MFM D2) than for NM-Score D3 (0.49 vs. the Brooke scale and
-0.49 vs. MFM D3). CONCLUSIONS: The NM-Score is a reliable,
reproducible outcome measure with value in clinical practice and in clinical
research for the description of patients and the constitution of uniform patient
groups (in terms of motor function).
CI - Copyright (c) 2013. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS