Duruöz Hand Index: Is it valid and reliable in children with unilateral cerebral palsy?

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Pediatric Neurology
• Hand Therapy

Background:

• Unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts hand function, affecting daily activities.
• Accurate assessment tools are crucial for effective rehabilitation and management of unilateral CP.
• The Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) is a questionnaire designed to evaluate hand function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the validity and reliability of the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) in patients diagnosed with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).
• To establish DHI as a dependable measure for assessing hand function in this specific patient group.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-three patients with unilateral CP underwent assessments including the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), grip, and pinch strength tests.
• The Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) was administered, followed by a telephonic retest within two weeks to assess test-retest reliability.
• Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and correlations with other functional measures.

Main Results:

• The Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.94) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.93).
• A significant high correlation was found between the DHI and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) (r=0.840, p<0.010).
• The DHI also showed significant correlations with grip and pinch strength measurements on the affected side (r=-0.459 and r=-0.509, both p<0.050).

Conclusions:

• The Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) is confirmed as a valid and reliable questionnaire for evaluating hand function in individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).
• The findings support the use of DHI as a valuable clinical tool for assessing hand impairments in unilateral CP.
• DHI's strong correlation with other established measures further validates its utility in this population.