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Psychometric evaluation of the functional walking test for children with cerebral palsy
Aoife Quinn1, Myra O'Regan, Frances Horgan
1Physiotherapy Department, Central Remedial Clinic, Vernon Avenue, Dublin, 3, Ireland. aquinn@crc.ie
Insights
The functional walking test (FWT) is a valid and reliable tool for assessing ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study confirms its strong psychometric properties for use in clinical and research settings.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in children, necessitating reliable assessment tools.
- The functional walking test (FWT) is designed to evaluate walking abilities in individuals with CP.
- Evaluating the psychometric properties of the FWT is crucial for its clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the psychometric properties of the functional walking test (FWT).
- To determine the reliability and validity of the FWT in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-six children with CP (mean age 9 years 6 months) were assessed using the FWT and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) on two occasions, 6 months apart.
- Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were assessed using generalisability correlation coefficients (GCC) and intra-class correlation coefficients.
- Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, and construct validity was assessed by correlating FWT scores with GMFM and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels.
Main Results:
- The FWT demonstrated high generalisability correlation coefficients (0.91-0.99) for all items.
- Excellent inter-rater and intra-rater reliability (GCC 0.99) and high internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.95 and 0.94) were observed.
- The FWT showed a high correlation with the GMFM (Pearson's r = 0.86-0.87) and significant correlations with GMFCS levels (r = -0.70 to -0.76), indicating strong validity.
Conclusions:
- The functional walking test (FWT) possesses sound psychometric properties.
- The FWT is a valid and reliable measure for ambulant children with cerebral palsy.
- These findings support the use of the FWT in clinical practice and research for this population.
Purpose:
This study examined the psychometric properties of the functional walking test (FWT).
Method:
Fifty-six subjects with cerebral palsy (CP) (21 females and 35 males, mean age 9 years 6 months, SD 3 years 9 months, range 4-17 years) were assessed on two occasions, 6 months apart, using both the FWT and the gross motor function measure (GMFM).
Results:
Generalisability correlation coefficients (GCC) for all 11 items were high (0.91-0.99). Inter-rater reliability was also high with excellent consensus in the scores given by the eight raters (intra-class correlation coefficient and GCC 0.99). Intra-rater reliability was equally high (GCC 0.99). The internal consistency of the FWT was estimated using Cronbach's α as 0.95 and 0.94 at Time 1 and 2, respectively. The FWT had a high degree of correlation with the GMFM, when total scores were compared at Time 1 and 2 (Pearson's r = 0.86 and 0.87, n = 56, p < 0.01). The FWT also found statistically significant differences in total scores between the three Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. The correlation between the FWT scores and GMFCS was -0.70 at Time 1 and -0.76 Time 2 (p < 0.01) indicating the construct validity of the FWT.
Conclusions:
This study has demonstrated that the FWT has sound psychometric properties and is valid and reliable in a sample population of ambulant children with CP.
