PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Samantha L.  Stephens
AU  - Mark S.  Tremblay
AU  - Guy Faulkner
AU  - Joseph Beyene
AU  - Tri H.  Nguyen
AU  - Suneye Koohsari
AU  - Elizaveta Limenis
AU  - Brian M.  Feldman
TI  - Validity of the Stage of Exercise Scale in Children with Rheumatologic Conditions
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.151377
DP  - 2016 Nov 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - jrheum.151377
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2016/10/26/jrheum.151377.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2016/10/26/jrheum.151377.full
AB  - Objective To determine the face, content, and construct validity of the Stages of Exercise Scale (SOES) in children with rheumatologic conditions [juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM)], and if the validity of the SOES differs by disease type by comparing it with a disease control with a chronic respiratory illness [cystic fibrosis (CF)]. Methods Sixty-seven children and adolescents (43 female) ages 11 to 18 years with a diagnosis of either JDM (n = 15), JIA (n = 39), or CF (n = 13) completed the SOES; scales of sensibility, process of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy; the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire; and patient/physician ratings of disease severity. Physical activity was measured by an accelerometer. Relationships among SOES and measured constructs were determined by ANOVA and with logistical modeling. Results SOES, decisional balance, and self-efficacy as well as behavioral and cognitive processes from the process of change demonstrated significant differences across the staging subgroups. Disease groups did not significantly differ on the scoring across the SOES. Children and adolescents in higher stages participated in more minutes of vigorous physical activity compared with those in the lower stages. Conclusion The SOES demonstrated good face, content, and construct validity in children and adolescents with rheumatic disease.