Adapting The Gross Motor Function Classification System Family Report (GMFCSFR) Into Turkish, Determining Its Reliability, and Investigating the Consistency of Family and Physiotherapist in Determining Gross Motor Function Levels

Purpose: The aim of this study is to adapt the Gross Motor Function Classification System Family Report (GMFCS-FR) to
Turkish, to examine its reliability, and to determine the consistency between different raters.
Methods: The study was conducted with the participation of mothers, fathers, physiotherapists and individuals with good
cognitive levels of 100 individuals diagnosed with CP between the ages of 2 and 18. GMFCS-FR was adapted to Turkish with
the principles of cross-cultural validity. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with test-retest analysis of mothers,
fathers and individuals with good cognitive levels; and the consistency between mothers, fathers, individuals with good
cognitive levels and physiotherapists was assessed with the Kappa coefficient.
Results: In the test-retest analyses, the ICC values of the assessments of mothers and fathers were found to be between 0.961
and 1.000 in all age groups, indicating that the Turkish version of the GMFCS-FR is highly reliable. Similarly, the selfassessments
of individuals with good cognitive levels in the 12–18 age group were also found to be reliable (ICC = 0.964,
p<0.001). Interobserver consistency was particularly high in the 2–6 age group. Good agreement was also observed between
young individuals and physiotherapists (κ = 0.715).
Discussion: The results show that the Turkish version of the GMFCS-FR is a reliable and consistent tool that supports a familycentered
approach in the rehabilitation of individuals with CP. It is thought that it will be an important resource for the active
participation of families in the rehabilitation process.
Key words: Cerebral palsy, family-centered approach, GMFCS-FR, reliability, consistency