Development of a candidate item bank for measuring mobility of lower limb orthosis users.
Geoffrey S Balkman, Sara J Morgan, Dagmar Amtmann and 2 others
PMID 36270012WHAT IT FOUND
Clinicians cannot yet use this new mobility survey for orthosis users.
The researchers built a 100-item draft based on patient interviews, but it has not been tested to see if it accurately measures walking ability or detects small changes.
Key findings
01The final output is a candidate item bank of 100 questions, not a validated clinical tool.
02Items were selected and refined based on patient feedback about specific activities like stepping over obstacles, which existing generic surveys missed.
03The study did not perform psychometric testing or calibration; it only developed the content of the items.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The survey has not been validated. It is a 'candidate' item bank, meaning its ability to accurately measure mobility or detect change over time has not been tested. The study excluded people with lower limb amputations, so the items may not apply to those with combined orthotic and prosthetic needs. Participants were predominantly non-Hispanic white, and not all conditions requiring orthoses (like muscular dystrophy) were represented. The literature search for existing items was limited to the previous five years, potentially missing older, relevant items.
Declared interests
No specific funding source or conflict of interest declaration is provided in the text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this 100-item bank is a ready-to-use clinical assessment. It has not undergone psychometric testing, so it cannot be used to diagnose mobility deficits or measure treatment progress.