An Examination of Adolescent Bone Tumor Patient Responses on the Activities Scale for Kids (ASK)

Abstract

This study provides an examination of responses on the Activities Scale for Kids, performance version (ASKp), for evaluating physical function in adolescents with malignant lower extremity bone tumors. Twenty-one participants (ages 10.4 to 17.9 years), who had tumor resection surgery, completed the ASKp on two occasions. ASKp data were examined for ceiling and/or floor effects, item distributions, and Not Applicable (NA) responses, as well as textual comments. Ceiling effects were 12.5% and 19%, and 0% demonstrated floor effects. The extreme response options were chosen most frequently, and approximately one third of respondents used NA more than 10% of the time. Overall, this population demonstrated moderately high NA rates and higher than anticipated ceiling effects on the ASKp. These data suggest that caution should be taken when interpreting item-level data in this population and further studies guiding the scoring and interpretation of NA responses are recommended.

Assessment of physical function in children with cancer: A systematic review

“…Other outcome measures gaining a negative moderate rating were the ASKp and the KiGGS‐AQ. The ASKp displayed ceiling effects and the KIGGS‐AQ did not correlate with objectively measured activity levels . This limitation of the KIGGS‐AQ is in line with literature reporting that children tend to overestimate their moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, a limitation worth considering given the prevalence of inactivity in paediatric cancer populations .…”

“…Nine hundred articles were excluded based on title and abstract with substantial agreement between reviewers ( K = 0.63, 95% CI 0.47–0.79). Thirty‐seven articles were sourced in full text, of which 21 were excluded leaving 16 articles (see Figure ) that assessed the measurement properties of 12 outcome measures (see Table ). Content and construct validity were most commonly assessed.…”

“…Results for the Lansky Play Performance Scale also found moderate evidence against the use of the measure, with two studies finding inadequate inter‐rater reliability scores ( r = 0.65, rho = 0.74). There was moderate evidence against the use of the Activity Scale for Kids – performance version (ASKp), with ceiling effects in excess of 12%, and moderate evidence against the use of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents – Activity questionnaire (KiGGS‐AQ), results showing poor correlation between questionnaire and accelerometry.…”

“…Thirty-seven articles were sourced in full text, of which 21 were excluded leaving 16 articles [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] (see Figure 3) that assessed the measurement properties of 12 outcome measures (see Table 2). Content and construct validity were most commonly assessed.…”

Systematic review of the health-related quality of life issues facing adolescents and young adults with cancer

“…The DISAKIDS measure (DCGM-37) [73] is used with school aged children including adolescents [74]. The Activities Scale for Kids Performance Version (ASKp) [75] was designed for children aged 10–15 years and has since been used to assess physical function in adolescents with bone tumours aged 10–18.9 years [76] and the Pediatrics Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) [77] provides an assessment of functional status in children and adolescents. The Pediatric Functional Assessment of Anorexia and Cachexia Therapy (peds-FAACT) [78] is specific to 7–17 years and includes additional peripheral items for 10–17 year olds.…”