Validity and reliability of three generic outcome measures for hand disorders

This is an assessment of three different outcome measures for the hand: the Hand Clinic Questionnaire (HCQ); the Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM); and the Hand Outcome Survey Sheet (HOSS). Each measure has been tested for its reliability and validity. The results suggest that the PEM and the HCQ are comparably consistent but the PEM is more reproducible. Both the PEM and HOSS are valid questionnaires. The PEM is suitable for use in an outpatient clinic and as a postal questionnaire. The HOSS may be used for research or audit especially when the injury has been measured using the Hand Injury Severity Score.