Developing and validating the Communication Function Classification System for individuals with cerebral palsy
2011/06/27 by MARY JO COOLEY HIDECKER, Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker, NIGEL PANETH +19 · 874 citations
Health Professions · Medicine · Psychology · #Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility #Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders #Cerebral palsy #Clinical psychology #Content validity #Developmental psychology #Gross Motor Function Classification System #Infant Development and Preterm Care #Inter-rater reliability #Psychiatry #Psychology #Psychometrics #Rating scale #Reliability (semiconductor) #Test (biology)
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.03996.x
published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 53(8), 704-710 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2011/06/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Abstract
AIM: The purpose of this study was to create and validate the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) for children with cerebral palsy (CP), for use by a wide variety of individuals who are interested in CP. This paper reports the content validity, interrater reliability, and test-retest reliability of the CFCS for children with CP. METHOD: An 11-member development team created comprehensive descriptions of the CFCS levels, and four nominal groups comprising 27 participants critiqued these levels. Within a Delphi survey, 112 participants commented on the clarity and usefulness of the CFCS. Interrater reliability was completed by 61 professionals and 68 parents/relatives who classified 69 children with CP aged 2 to 18 years. Test-retest reliability was completed by 48 professionals who allowed at least 2 weeks between classifications. The participants who assessed the CFCS were all relevant stakeholders: adults with CP, parents of children with CP, educators, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physicians, and speech-language pathologists. RESULTS: The interrater reliability of the CFCS was 0.66 between two professionals and 0.49 between a parent and a professional. Professional interrater reliability improved to 0.77 for classification of children older than 4 years. The test-retest reliability was 0.82. INTERPRETATION: The CFCS demonstrates content validity and shows very good test-retest reliability, good professional interrater reliability, and moderate parent-professional interrater reliability. Combining the CFCS with the Gross Motor Function Classification System and the Manual Ability Classification System contributes to a functional performance view of daily life for individuals with CP, in accordance with the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
Citations
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