Citation

Darr N, Franjoine MR, Campbell SK, Smith E. Pediatr. Phys. Ther. 2015; 27(4): 337-348.

Affiliation

School of Physical Therapy (Dr Darr), Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Physical Therapy (Dr Franjoine), Daemen College, Amherst, New York; and Department of Physical Therapy (Dr Campbell), and Department of Educational Psychology (Dr Smith), University of Illinois at Chicago.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PEP.0000000000000178

PMID

26397075

Abstract

PURPOSE: The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a 14-item measure of functional balance for children. This study examined PBS dimensionality, rating scale function, and hierarchical properties using Rasch analysis.

METHODS: The PBS data were analyzed retrospectively for 823 children, aged 2 to 13 years, with uni- and multidimensional Rasch partial credit models.

RESULTS: The PBS best fits a unidimensional model based on the Bayesian information criterion analysis (12 400.73 vs 12 404.48), strong correlations between 3 proposed dimensions (r = 0.946-0.979), and high internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.94). Analysis of rating scale functioning is limited by small numbers of children achieving low scores on easy items. Item maps indicated a ceiling effect but no substantive gaps between item difficulty estimates.

CONCLUSION: The PBS items are best targeted to preschool-age children; additional children with known balance dysfunction are required to fully assess functioning of the easiest PBS items. Revisions may improve PBS utility in older children.

Language: en