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Validation of the questionnaire on hand function assessment in leprosy
Telma Leonel Ferreira1, Rosicler Rocha Aiza Alvarez, Marcos da Cunha Lopes Virmond
1Rede SARAH de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Brasília, DF, Brasil. telleonel@pop.com.br
Revista De Saude Publica
|May 29, 2012
Summary
This study validated a hand function assessment questionnaire for leprosy patients. The tool demonstrated excellent reproducibility and internal consistency, correlating well with clinical factors and manual ability.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neurology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Leprosy often causes nerve damage, leading to hand dysfunction.
- Accurate assessment of hand function is crucial for managing leprosy complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the psychometric properties of a questionnaire designed for assessing hand function in leprosy patients.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample of 101 adult leprosy patients with nerve impairment was studied.
- Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility was assessed using kappa coefficients and Bland-Altman plots.
- Construct validity was evaluated by correlating questionnaire scores with age, leprosy type, nerve injury duration, grip/pinch strength, sensibility, and the Jebsen test.
Main Results:
- The questionnaire exhibited high interobserver (0.86-0.97) and intraobserver (0.85-0.97) reproducibility.
- Cronbach's alpha was 0.967, indicating excellent internal consistency.
- Scores correlated significantly with nerve injury duration, grip strength, cutaneous sensibility, and manual ability.
Conclusions:
- The hand functional assessment questionnaire for leprosy is a reliable and valid tool.
- It demonstrates strong reproducibility and internal consistency.
- The questionnaire effectively correlates with key clinical indicators of leprosy's impact on hand function.
