The German version of the Functional Walking Categories (FWC): translation and initial validation. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klotz, Susanne G. R.; Petersen-Ewert, Corinna; Ketels, Gesche; Scherer, Martin; Barzel, Anne
• Is Part Of: Topics in stroke rehabilitation. Volume 26:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Functional Walking Categories -- community ambulation -- German translation -- cross-cultural adaptation -- validity -- reliability; Cerebrovascular disease -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Cerebrovascular disease -- Periodicals; 616.810305
• DOI: 10.1080/10749357.2018.1536022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1074-9357

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Community ambulation is often affected after a stroke. However, no validated assessment in German to measure community ambulation on a participation level exists. Objectives : The purpose was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Functional Walking Categories (FWC) into German and to assess its validity and reliability in patients with stroke. Methods : Cross-cultural adaptation guidelines were used for translation. Face and content validity were established with the aid of an expert committee. A pilot study with patients after stroke in a neurological rehabilitation setting checked for concurrent validity using Kendall's tau and reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients. Results : The results indicated that the German version of the FWC has adequate face and content validity. A total of 30 patients (mean age 62 ± 12.315 years, 56.7% female) participated in the study. The FWC correlated well with the Functional Ambulation Categories (tau-b = 0.783), cadence (tau-b = 0.640), gait velocity (tau-b = 0.628), the comfortable 10-m timed walk (tau-b = −0.629), and the fast 10-m timed walk (tau-b = −0.634). Moderate correlations were found between the FWC and step length (tau-b = 0.483) and the Timed Up and Go (tau-b = −0.520), respectively. Intrarater reliability was moderate (ICC = 0.651) while interrater reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.751) (all correlations p < 0.001). However, the study was designed as pilot study, thus, full psychometric property testing was not possible. Conclusions : The German FWC offers a reasonable tool for measuring community ambulation on participation level. However, a user manual seems to be helpful.