Pediatric Performance-Based Outcome Measures for Upper Extremity Function: A Scoping Review and Linking to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.
Caroline Elfassy, Clarice Ribeiro Soares Araújo, Tessah Dunn and 5 others
PMID 38545664WHAT IT FOUND
Thirty-two performance-based tests for children's upper limb function were mapped to the ICF.
Most assess body function and activity, with significant gaps in participation and personal factors. Clinicians should note these measures do not capture real-world engagement or environmental barriers.
Key findings
01The review identified 32 performance-based outcome measures for pediatric upper extremity function, with the Assisting Hand Assessment, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb, Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, and Box and Blocks being the most frequently reported.
02The majority of meaningful concepts from these measures linked to ICF Chapter 4 (Mobility, Fine hand use), while areas of Participation and Personal Factors were lacking in the linking process.
03Twenty-eight of the 32 included measures assessed capacity rather than performance, meaning they evaluate what a child can do in a clinical setting rather than what they actually do in daily life.
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 review only included measures cited more than twice, potentially missing newer or less common tools. The search was limited to English and French literature. Most included measures assess capacity rather than performance, which limits their ability to reflect daily life function. The ICF linking process revealed gaps in participation and personal factors, but this is a limitation of the measures themselves, not the review method.
Declared interests
No specific funding or conflict of interest declarations were provided in the text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these performance-based tests measure how a child uses their upper limb in daily life. Most assess capacity in a clinical setting and do not capture participation or environmental factors.