[Evaluation of social functioning ability of disabled children].

Since 1999, we have been trying to establish a reliable method for evaluating social functioning ability (SFA) of physically handicapped children, in cooperation with the Project of Comprehensive Study of Disability, Social Health, and Welfare supported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan. In this study, we investigated the reliability and accuracy of the 4th edition of "The Evaluation of SFA". This evaluation consists of 40 items in 15 areas. We examined 45 disabled patients (26 males and 19 females) aged 12-27 years (mean age, 16 years). The reliability was checked by agreement of evaluations of the same patient carried out by two examiners. The results showed good reliability (kappa value of 0.42). According to the results of questionnaires, 97% of the examiners regarded this evaluation to be useful. Although the score of SFA correlated with intelligent quotient/development quotient, the score did not correlate with motor disability level. We hope that this evaluation will be widely used to upgrade SFA of disabled children.