Validity of a brief outpatient functional assessment measure

Aspects of validity are investigated with a brief functional assessment measure among outpatients undergoing rehabilitation for musculoskeletal problems. The Medical Rehabilitation Follow Along measure (MRFA) currently has screening, musculoskeletal, neurologic, and multiple sclerosis forms. In this study, the 31-item musculoskeletal form of the MRFA is compared with and contrasted to a measure of general health status, the Medical Outcomes Trust SF-36. Content, construct, and criterion validity are addressed using scale scores before (n = 94) and after (n = 48) outpatient rehabilitation. Scale scores are compared with therapists' ratings of improvement. The results provide support for the validity of inferences made from scale scores of the MRFA for persons with musculoskeletal problems. Applications of the MRFA, including screening, monitoring, and outcome assessment are discussed for clinical management, measuring treatment effectiveness, and program evaluation.