Reliability and responsiveness of the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function and the Box and Block Test for children with cerebral palsy

Aim: To assess the reliability and to evaluate the responsiveness of both the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) and the Box and Block Test (BBT) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: In this retrospective study, the reliability analyses were conducted with paired t-tests considering a short (mean 14d) and a long (mean 120d) time in between two assessment periods. In addition, an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the level of congruency. The responsiveness to therapy was conducted with a paired t-test in the whole sample regarding the age, the manual ability level as classified with the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the topography. Results: Our main results confirmed the tests’ reliability in a short time period for the JTTHF in both hands and for the BBT on the less affected hand. These results were consistent with the ICC. The responsiveness was confirmed, except on the less affected hand for the JTTHF, with similar results for age, MACS, and topography approach. Interpretation: This study supports the use of the JTTHF and the BBT to examine changes after short-term interventions for children with CP. These results should be interpreted with association to normative values or with a control group when used over long assessment periods. What this paper adds: The Box and Block Test (BBT) is reliable in a brief period of assessment in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) is reliable in a brief period of assessment in children with CP. The JTTHF and BBT are responsive to changes in a brief period of intensive therapy in children with CP. The reliability and responsiveness of the JTTHF and BBT are weak over long assessment periods.