Evaluation of the construct validity of the DASH questionnaire by correlation to the SF-36

The construct validity of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was evaluated by examining its correlation to the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36). The study sample was 90 patients seen at the upper-extremity clinic of a university-based orthopedic practice. Patients were asked to complete a packet that included the DASH and SF-36 questionnaires. Pearson correlation coefficients of the DASH questionnaire to the SF-36 subscales ranged from -0.36 to -0.62. The DASH questionnaire had fewer ceiling and floor scores than most of the SF-36 subscales. These results support the DASH questionnaire as a valid measure of health status useful in patients with a wide variety of upper-extremity complaints.