Performance Quality Rating Scale for Somatosensation After Stroke Version 3: Reliability, Feasibility

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Somatosensory impairment is a common challenge for stroke survivors, impacting their ability to perform daily activities.
• Objective and reliable assessment tools are crucial for guiding rehabilitation interventions.
• The Performance Quality Rating Scale for Somatosensation after Stroke (PQRS-SS) was developed to evaluate functional somatosensation during occupation-based tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the inter- and intra-rater reliability of version 3 of the PQRS-SS.
• To assess the standard error of measurement (SEM) for the PQRS-SS version 3.
• To evaluate the feasibility of using the PQRS-SS version 3 through clinician interviews and thematic analysis.

Main Methods:

• Four experienced clinicians rated videos of 22 stroke survivors performing 38 client-selected occupations on two separate occasions.
• The PQRS-SS version 3 was used for rating, with assessments conducted 6 weeks apart.
• Inter- and intra-rater reliability were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and feasibility was assessed via qualitative interviews.

Main Results:

• The PQRS-SS version 3 demonstrated moderate to excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.71–0.91).
• Intra-rater reliability was found to be good (ICC = 0.76–0.87).
• Clinician feedback indicated that the PQRS-SS version 3 is easy to use.

Conclusions:

• The PQRS-SS version 3 exhibits acceptable to excellent reliability and is feasible for clinical use.
• Trained and experienced clinicians can effectively utilize the PQRS-SS version 3 for assessing somatosensation in stroke survivors.
• The tool is recommended for clinical practice and warrants further psychometric investigation.