Turkish version of modified Hand Mobility in Scleroderma test: A translation and validation study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Outcomes Measurement

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis (SSc) significantly impacts hand function, necessitating reliable assessment tools.
• The Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (HAMIS) is a known hand function test, with a modified version (mHAMIS) developed comprising 4 items.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Modified Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (mHAMIS) test.
• To establish mHAMIS as a dependable instrument for assessing hand dysfunction in SSc patients.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 39 patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
• Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency), Kappa concordance (intra- and inter-observer agreement), and intraclass correlation (inter-observer reliability).
• Validity was examined by correlating mHAMIS scores with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Duruoz Hand Index (DHI).

Main Results:

• The Turkish mHAMIS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .954).
• High intra- and inter-observer agreement (Kappa values of 0.954 and 0.965, respectively) and inter-observer reliability (0.966) were observed.
• Strong correlations were found between mHAMIS, DHI, and HAQ scores (r: .7-.8), supporting construct validity.

Conclusions:

• The Turkish version of the mHAMIS test is a reliable and valid instrument.
• It exhibits good internal consistency and agreement for assessing hand function in Turkish patients with SSc.
• mHAMIS can be effectively utilized in clinical practice for evaluating hand mobility in this patient group.