Construct validation of an acute care occupational therapy cerebral vascular accident assessment tool

This study was the last in a series of six investigations of the construct validity of the St. Marys CVA evaluation, a clinician constructed test composed of items designed to evaluate sensory, perceptual, motor, and self care performance in cerebral vascular accident patients. Data for the present study were obtained from 250 new patients referred for occupational therapy services from 1983 to 1988. Factor analysis with varimax orthogonal rotation was performed on 22 items of the evaluation including perception, recovery stages, measures of grasp and pinch strength and other functional variables. Three factors emerged - Right Function, Recovery Stage, and Left Hand Strength. The results of the study, combined with results of previous research, indicate that this CVA Evaluation has reasonable construct validity as an occupational therapy assessment tool in an acute care setting.