Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (HAMIS) test: the reliability of a novel hand function test

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Hand Therapy

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis often impairs hand function, necessitating reliable assessment tools.
• Existing hand function tests may not fully capture the range of motion limitations in scleroderma.
• The Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (HAMIS) test was developed to address these needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (HAMIS) test.
• To determine if HAMIS is a dependable instrument for measuring hand function in adults with systemic sclerosis.

Main Methods:

• The HAMIS test, comprising 9 items, was administered by two independent observers (occupational therapist and physiotherapist) to 30 adult subjects with systemic sclerosis.
• Each subject was assessed twice by each observer to evaluate intra-rater and inter-rater agreement.
• Statistical analysis included Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency and kappa statistics for agreement.

Main Results:

• The HAMIS test demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.80 to 0.85.
• Inter-rater agreement was good for all items (kappa 0.52–1.00).
• Intra-rater agreement was moderate to very good for most items (kappa 0.48–1.00), with the exception of supination (kappa 0.25–0.59).

Conclusions:

• The Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (HAMIS) test is a reliable instrument for assessing hand function in patients with systemic sclerosis.
• HAMIS provides consistent results across different raters and repeated measures, supporting its clinical utility.
• Further refinement may be considered for the supination assessment component.