Reliability of GMFCS-E&R and GMFCS-FR Thai version in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Gross Motor Function Classification System for cerebral palsy (GMFCS) is a reliable and valid system, developed for physical therapists and caregivers (GMFCS-Family Report Questionnaire: GMFCS-FR) to classify the severity of children with cerebral palsy in research and clinical. At the present, there is no report of reliability study of GMFCS-E&R and GMFCS-FR. This study aimed to investigate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the GMFCS-E&R by physical therapists and GMFCS-FR by caregivers. Sixty-eight children with cerebral palsy, aged 0-18 years, their functional movement were assessed twice with 2 weeks interval. The Weight Kappa (k) statistic was used to analyze intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. Results showed excellent inter-rater reliability (weight k = 0.90) and intra-rater reliability (weight k = 0.89) of physical therapists. The inter-rater reliability (weight k = 0.93) and intra-rater reliability (weight k = 0.94-0.98) of caregivers were also excellent. The inter-rater reliability between physical therapists and caregivers were fair to good when they classified the same child (aged 6-12 years). This study concludes that GMFCS-E&R and GMFCS-FR are reliable and can be used in clinical practice.

Keywords:  Cerebral palsy,  GMFCS-E&R,  GMFCS-FR,  Reliability