Article

This literature review addressed four questions. (1) In which populations other
than cerebral palsy (CP) has the Gross Motor Function Classification System
(GMFCS) been applied? (2) In what types of study, and why was it used? (3) How
was it modified to facilitate these applications? (4) What justifications and
evidence of psychometric adequacy were used to support its application? A search
of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases (January 1997 to April 2017) using the
terms: 'GMFCS' OR 'Gross Motor Function Classification System' yielded 2499
articles. 118 met inclusion criteria and reported children/adults with 133 health
conditions/clinical descriptions other than CP. Three broad GMFCS applications
were observed: as a categorization tool, independent variable, or outcome
measure. While the GMFCS is widely used for children with health
conditions/clinical description other than CP, researchers rarely provided
adequate justification for these uses. We offer recommendations for
development/validation of other condition-specific classification systems and
discuss the potential need for a generic gross motor function classification
system. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The Gross Motor Function Classification System
should not be used outside cerebral palsy or as an outcome measure. The authors
provide recommendations for development and validation of condition-specific or
generic classification systems.
CI - (c) 2017 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS