Article

AIM: To examine the stability of caregiver-reported classifications of function
of children with cerebral palsy (CP) measured 12 months apart. METHOD:
Participants were 86 children (50 males, 36 females) with CP of all motor types
and severities who were recruited into a population-based longitudinal study.
Children were aged 11 years 8 months (SD 6 mo) on the first assessment and 12
years 8 months (SD 6 mo) on the second assessment. Data were gathered through a
postal survey. Caregivers reported on the Manual Ability Classification System
(MACS), the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and other
demographic characteristics. The percentage absolute agreement and the intraclass
coefficient correlation (ICC) equivalent of the weighted kappa were calculated to
assess consistency between assessments for the MACS and GMFCS. We also examined
associations between changes in classification and background variables. RESULTS:
Fifty-eight caregivers (67%) classified their child at the same MACS level on
both assessments (ICC 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-0.95), whereas 79%
did so with the GMFCS (ICC 0.95; 95% CI 0.92-0.96). The evidence suggests that
caregivers who were not born in Australia or who spoke a language other than
English in the home were more likely to classify their child differently on the
MACS at the second assessment, although this was not evident for the GMFCS.
INTERPRETATION: Caregiver-reported MACS and GMFCS levels were generally stable
over 12 months.

Langue : ANGLAIS