Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale for the Italian Paediatric Population

Background

Chewing is a fundamental motor activity, but there is no specific assessment tool in Italian for paediatric rehabilitation. The Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS) is a performance-based assessment tool that allow to classify chewing performance in childhood.

Objective

To translate, culturally adapt and assess reliability, criterion validity and cross-cultural validity of the KCPS into Italian in a paediatric population.

Methods

Following international guidelines, the KCPS was translated and culturally adapted into Italian. Inter-rater reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the criterion validity using the Pearson correlation coefficient comparing KCPS score with the Paediatric Screening-Priority Evaluation Dysphagia (PS-PED), and cross-cultural validity was examined across diagnostic groups.

Results

The study included 165 children with a mean age of 6.33 with different health conditions, namely autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and genetic syndromes. The analysis revealed that KCPS was reliable measure with a ICC 0.93, and a moderate positive linear correlation with the PS-PED (Pearson 0.48) was found. In each diagnostic group, chewing performance disorders were found, highlighting specific characteristics.

Conclusions

Despite limited sample in reliability analysis and the need of exploring the relationship with chewing abilities and severity of diseases, the KCPS was found a reliable and valid tool for determining the level of chewing performance in paediatric population. Now Italian clinicians can use it with more confidence in their clinical practice and research.