Article

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 alpha 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.

Langue : ANGLAIS