Abstract
Study Design
Clinical measurement study.
Introduction
The Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) has not been validated in children.
Purpose of the Study
To determine reliability and validity of the FDT in a pediatric population.
Methods
Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were used to calculate interrater and test-retest
reliability in typically developing children. Pearson correlation coefficients were
used to compare FDT speed with the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JHFT) and with
2 activities of daily living tasks to establish validity in children with congenital
hand differences.
Results
The FDT demonstrated excellent interrater (ICC, 0.99) and test-retest (ICC, 0.90)
reliability. Pearson correlation coefficients exceeded 0.67 for JHFT subsets of fine
dexterity and were all less than 0.66 for JHFT subsets of gross grasp. Correlations
with the activities of daily living tasks were good to excellent. FDT speeds in TD
children exceeded those of children with congenital hand differences (P < .001), demonstrating discriminant validity.
Discussion
Children with congenital hand differences are often treated early in life, making
it important to reliably assess hand function of these young children to distinguish
developmental change from changes due to interventions. The FDT can reliably measure
functional progress over time, help clinicians monitor the efficacy of treatment,
and provide families realistic feedback on their child’s progress.
Conclusion
The FDT is a valid and reliable instrument for the measurement of fine motor dexterity
in children.
Keywords
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JHT Read for Credit
Quiz: #511
Record your answers on the Return Answer Form found on the tear-out coupon at the back of this issue or to complete online and use a credit card, go to JHTReadforCredit.com. There is only one best answer for each question.
- #1.Reliability was established through this statistical method
- a.ANOVAs
- b.ICCs
- c.Standard Deviations
- d.Student T Tests
- a.
- #2.Validity was determined by comparing FDT speeds with those of the
- a.DASH
- b.MMIT
- c.Hunter-Mackin Dexterity Test
- d.JHFT
- a.
- #3.In the context of dexterity testing, capacity refers to the patient's
- a.sum total of manual performance over a given time
- b.skill level in the manipulation of small objects
- c.willingness and ability to perform the given task
- d.accuracy of performing dexterous activities
- a.
- #4.For validation volunteer subjects
- a.had undergone reconstructive surgery of a hand injury
- b.had a congenital hand condition
- c.were old enough to give legal consent to participate in the study
- d.were receiving hand therapy at the Houston VA hospital
- a.
- #5.Prior to this report the FDT had not been validated for use with children
- a.true
- b.false
- a.
When submitting to the HTCC for re-certification, please batch your JHT RFC certificates in groups of 3 or more to get full credit.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 15, 2016
Accepted:
August 31,
2016
Received in revised form:
August 31,
2016
Received:
August 10,
2015
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Hanley & Belfus, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
