Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the psychometric properties of the Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES).

Methods

Fifty-two children (27 females and 25 males; mean age 9.8 ± 4.4 years) with spastic type of cerebral palsy (CP) participated in the study. Psychometric analyses included reliability, concurrent validity, construct validity, and discriminant validity. Upper Limb Physician’s Rating Scale (ULPRS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) were used for concurrent validity. Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) was used for construct validity. Differences in SCUES scores were determined between participants categorized according to their limb distribution and MACS levels.

Results

Intra-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.98) of the SCUES was excellent. SCUES and ULPRS (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), SCUES and MAS (r=-0.93, p < 0.001), SCUES and QUEST (r=0.81, p < 0.001) were highly correlated. SCUES and MACS (r=-0.67, p < 0.001) was moderately correlated. SCUES scores differed significantly between children classifed as MACS levels I versus II and III and between children with hemiparetic and diparetic CP.

Conclusion

The SCUES appears to be a valid and reliable tool to assess selective voluntary motor control of the upper extremities in children with spastic CP, which may be useful in selecting and planning interventions.

Keywords:

• cerebral palsy
• motor control
• motor learning
• psychometric testing
• validity
• upper extremity
• reliability

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the authors of the original SCUES for their permissions and approvals into the Turkish version of SCUES. We thank all the children and parents for their participation and Cemil Özal from Hacettepe University for his support in editing the manuscript in English. This study was produced from a MSc Thesis titled ‘The Assessment of Selective Motor Control and Investigation of the Effect on Activity, Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy’ at the Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University. It is stated as a separate work package in the thesis. The authors declared that this study has received no financial support. The authors have stated that they had no interests which might be perceived as posing a conflict or bias.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Merve Tunçdemir

Merve Tunçdemir, PT, MSc, is a Pediatric Physical Therapist and Research Assistant working at the Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

Jale Karakaya

Jale Karakaya, PhD, is a Associate Professor at Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

Mintaze Kerem-Günel

Mintaze Kerem-Günel, PT, PhD, is a Professor at Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.