Outcome measurement in clinical pediatric neurorehabilitation: assessment of motor and process skills evaluates the effect of therapy in the area of activity of daily living

Aims: The assessment of motor and process skills (AMPS) is an internationally well-established, in German speaking countries rarely known as outcome measurement, which evaluates the performance of activities of daily living (ADLs) in regard to effort, efficiency, safety, and need for assistance (ICF- category activity/participation). It measures motor and process skills. The AMPS was validated worldwide with 150,000 persons for all diagnostic categories and persons aged 2 years and older. After the occupational therapist observed and evaluated 1 person's ADL performance, the raw scores are imputed and analyzed with a Rasch-software that generates graphic and/or written reports. These reports set the person's ADL performance in relation to normative mean values and to standardized scores which enable meaningful clinical interpretations. We scrutinized the ability of this instrument to capture progress in clinical pediatric neurorehabilitation in the area of ADL.

Methods: Implementation of the AMPS in 25 children with various diagnoses and difficulties (ranging from movement to behavioral impairments) before and after clinical neurorehabilitative intervention.

Results: Changes in the area of ADL are detected with AMPS even after short-term (few weeks) interventions.

Conclusion: The AMPS is a practical and sensitive instrument for investigating the course of clinical pediatric neurorehabilitation and interventions. Therefore it is useful. The AMPS enables us to measure resources and limitations in the area of ADL objectively, to plan activity-based interventions and to scrutinize their efficiency.