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Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness of the QuickDASH in Patients With Upper Limb Amputation
Linda Resnik1, Matthew Borgia2
1Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, RI; Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|April 28, 2015
Summary
The QuickDASH questionnaire is reliable and valid for assessing upper limb amputees. It shows preliminary responsiveness to prosthetic training, indicating its potential for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Outcome Measurement
Background:
- Upper limb amputation presents significant challenges for daily activities.
- Standardized outcome measures are crucial for evaluating interventions in this population.
- The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire is a widely used tool, but its utility in upper limb amputees requires specific validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the QuickDASH questionnaire in individuals with upper limb amputation.
- To determine if the QuickDASH can effectively measure changes related to prosthetic use and training.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional and longitudinal study design was employed with 44 upper limb amputees.
- Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
- Validity was examined through known-groups and concurrent measures, while responsiveness was evaluated using effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM) after prosthetic training.
Main Results:
- The QuickDASH demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = .83) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = .87).
- The Minimum Detectable Change (MDC95%) was calculated as 17.4.
- Individuals using prostheses and those with more distal amputations reported better functional outcomes, supporting the questionnaire's validity and responsiveness.
Conclusions:
- The QuickDASH questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for use in the upper limb amputee population.
- Preliminary findings suggest the QuickDASH is responsive to changes associated with prosthetic device type and training.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to solidify these findings.
