Psychometric properties of the Edinburgh Visual Gait Score in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Abstract

BackgroundTo our knowledge, no other studies investigated the internal consistency of the Edinburgh Visual Gait Score (EVGS). The aim of our study was to determine the reliability and construct validity of the EVGS in children with cerebral palsy (CP).ResultsA total of fifty children with CP were enrolled in the study. Participants were evaluated with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS), Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (Gillette FAQ), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and EVGS (Rater-A and Rater-B). Slow-motion video analysis was used for the visual gait analysis. The inter-rater reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the EVGS were analyzed. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the EVGS total score was 0.947 (CI: 0.90–0.97). Inter-rater reliability was excellent (ICC>0.80). The Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.936, within the acceptable range (0.70<α<0.95). In addition, the standard error of measurement (SEM95) and minimal detectable change (MDC95) scores of EVGS were 1.72 and 4.78, respectively. The correlation values of EVGS (Rater-A) and GMFCS, TUG, GFAQ, and WGS were 0.494, 0.661, −0.663, and 0.611, respectively. On the other hand, the correlation values of EVGS (Rater-B) and GMFCS, TUG, GFAQ, and WGS were 0.492, 0.664, −0.714, and 0.757, respectively. Except for comparison with GMFC, EVGS was highly valid in all other correlational analyzes (r>0.50). EVGS had moderate validity with GMFCS for both raters.ConclusionThe EVGS was reliable and valid. Internal consistency of the EVGS is high, indicating a consistent structure to assess gait in children with CP.