Article

AIM: As there is little evidence for concurrent validity of the Eating and
Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS), this study aimed to determine its
concurrent validity and reliability in children and adolescents with cerebral
palsy (CP). METHOD: After an extensive translation procedure, we applied the
German language version to 52 participants with CP (30 males, 22 females, mean
age 9y 7mo [SD 4y 2mo]). We correlated (Kendall's tau or Ktau ) the EDACS levels
with the Bogenhausener Dysphagiescore (BODS), and the EDACS level of assistance
with the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and the item 'eating' of the
Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM). We further quantified the
interrater reliability between speech and language therapists (SaLTs) and between
SaLTs and parents with Kappa (kappa). RESULTS: The EDACS levels correlated highly
with the BODS (Ktau =0.79), and the EDACS level of assistance correlated highly
with the MACS (Ktau =0.73) and WeeFIM eating item (Ktau =-0.80). Interrater
reliability proved almost perfect between SaLTs (EDACS: kappa=0.94; EDACS level
of assistance: kappa=0.89) and SaLTs and parents (EDACS: kappa=0.82; EDACS level
of assistance: kappa=0.89). INTERPRETATION: The EDACS levels and level of
assistance seem valid and showed almost perfect interrater reliability when
classifying eating and drinking problems in children and adolescents with CP.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System
(EDACS) correlates well with a dysphagia score. The EDACS level of assistance
proves valid. The German version of EDACS is highly reliable. EDACS correlates
moderately to highly with other classification systems.
CI - (c) 2018 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS