Important elements of measuring participation for children who need or use power mobility: a modified Delphi survey.

Abstract

To identify and reach consensus on important elements of measuring participation in everyday life for children who need or use power mobility. A panel (n=74) of parents, therapists, and researchers with pediatric power mobility and participation expertise completed an online modified Delphi survey. Three rounds determined important elements of participation for two groups: early childhood (18mo-5y) and school-aged (6-12y). 'Elements of participation' defined the 'who, what, where, and how' of measuring participation, generated from a literature review and participants' suggestions. Consensus was set a priori as ≥80% agreement. Consensus was reached on 21 out of 48 elements of participation important to measure for our population: eight elements for the younger group and 18 elements for the older group. When ranked by importance, four of the top five elements were common across both age groups. For children using power mobility, measuring participation in a variety of settings is critical, along with considering both the child's and family's participation. Evaluating child engagement and enjoyment of participation are priorities, as is measuring barriers and facilitators. For school-aged children, evaluating child and parent reports of participation are essential. These elements can guide tool selection and/or development.