Validity, reliability and ease of use of the disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire in adults following stroke

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Date
2016-10-21
Authors
Dalton, Emily
Lannin, Natasha A
Laver, Kate
Ross, Leo
Ashford, Stephen
McCluskey, Annie
Cusick, Anne
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Informa UK Ltd, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Rights
Copyright 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Rights Holder
Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Purpose: The Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a patient reported outcome measure for evaluating upper limb function in people with musculoskeletal conditions. While the DASH has good psychometric properties when used with people with musculoskeletal conditions, it has not been tested with adults after stroke. Methods: Data for n=61 adults following stroke (aged 32 to 93 years, 44% male) were analysed to test validity and reliability of the DASH for use with a stroke population. Data included demographic and clinical attributes, DASH scores (baseline and 4 weeks later) and Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) measures. Results: Internal consistency was good (Cronbach alpha 0.92, SEM 6.65). Factor analysis and Rasch modelling suggested that the questionnaire comprised three subscales: pain, impact and function. Concurrent validity between the DASH and PRWE (Spearman’s Rho rs=0.41) was moderate. The scale was perceived by clinicians to be useful, quick and simple to administer. The DASH had low four-week test-retest reliability (ICC 0.56 [95% Cl 0.05-0.79). Conclusion: The DASH is considered to have acceptable validity when used with adults following stroke. Test-retest reliability was low but further research is needed to establish whether this is a result of condition-related change or the stability of the measure.
Description
This author accepted manuscript (post print) is made available following a 12 month embargo from date of publication 21 October 2016 in accordance with the publisher copyright policy. “This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in [Disability and Rehabilitaiton] on [21 October 2016], available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09638288.2016.12293”
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Citation
Emily Dalton, Natasha A. Lannin, Kate Laver, Leo Ross, Stephen Ashford, Annie McCluskey & Anne Cusick (2016): Validity, reliability and ease of use of the disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire in adults following stroke, Disability and Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1229364