Perception comparation of the family and physical therapist using the GMFCS system and the Family Report Questionnaire

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a widely studied and known pathology between the health professionals and carries with it, in the academic environment, some important classifications that help the communication between professionals in a multidisciplinary team. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) purpose is to classify the gross motor in the child based on the self-initiated movement ability, being divided in five levels. Just like the multidisciplinary team needs to be aware of this classification and the child level, the parents and/or caregivers also need to know about it and agree on it. This understanding can often be limited, and with that, the relationship between the health professionals and the family can conflict, presenting problems in the future. Objective: This study has the purpose to quantify agreement between the parents and/or caregivers about the classification of the gross motor function when compared with the classification given by the physiotherapy and physiatrist, as well as quantify how much the parents and/or caregivers knew about the previous classification. Method: It is a prospective observational study, done with 96 patients, in which the electronic medical records were analyzed and tabulated. Being then applied the GMFCS Family Repost Questionnaire. Results: All dependent variables who were evaluated demonstrated a concordance above 60%; the Kappa value present was k= >0,7, having, therefore, a moderate to strong reliability between the groups. Conclusion: In general, the health professionals are more susceptible to classify the patients on better functional levels when compared with the family.