Validity and Reliability of Quick Motor Function Test in Ambulatory Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients

Abstract

The quick motor function test (QMFT) is used to evaluate Pompe patients' motor function. This study aims to evaluate the convergent validity and reliability of the cross-culturally adapted Turkish version of QMFT in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with DMD were included in the study. The QMFT was translated and adapted to Turkish. The functionality of the patients was assessed with the north star ambulatory assessment (NSAA) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT); muscle strength was evaluated with a hand-held dynamometer. There were two separate practitioners on the first day of the QMFT study; it was applied a second time by the first practitioner 14 days later. The mean age of DMD patients was 9.03 ± 3.39 (minimum 4–maximum 18 . Twenty-seven patients concluded all the necessary assessments. Intrarater reliability of QMFT in patients with DMD was intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.98, and interrater reliability ICC = 0.98 was excellent. QMFT correlated very well with 6MWT (r _s = 0.86; p < 0.001) and NSAA (r _s = 0.91; p < 0.001). Both the QMFT and NSAA show stronger correlations with proximal muscle groups (convergent validity) than with distal muscle groups (divergent validity). QMFT is a reliable and valid test for evaluating motor function in patients with DMD.

Keywords

Duchenne muscular dystrophy - motor function - reliability - validity

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the local ethics committee. All patients and parents gave their written and verbal informed consent.

Authors' Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the creation of the concept, literature search, writing and editing of the manuscript, analyses, and evaluation of the results. S.I. and M.D. have been primarily involved in acquisition of the data. All authors have seen the final version and given their consent for publication.

Publication History

Received: 28 September 2021

Accepted: 07 January 2022

Article published online:
28 February 2022

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