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ABILHAND: a Rasch-built measure of manual ability
M Penta1, J L Thonnard, L Tesio
1Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Unit, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|September 28, 1998
Summary
The Rasch measurement model successfully developed the ABILHAND tool to measure manual (dis)ability in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This tool defines manual ability as a unique construct, even with a small patient sample.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Measuring manual ability is crucial for assessing the impact of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Existing scales may not fully capture the spectrum of manual (dis)ability.
- The Rasch measurement model offers a robust framework for developing precise measurement tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the ABILHAND (ABILity HAND) clinical tool for measuring manual (dis)ability.
- To apply the Rasch measurement model for creating a unidimensional scale of manual function.
- To assess the construct of manual ability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Main Methods:
- The Rasch measurement model was applied to evaluate manual ability.
- Fifty-seven unimanual and bimanual activities were assessed based on patient-perceived difficulty.
- Data were collected from 18 rheumatoid arthritis patients post-wrist arthrodesis.
Main Results:
- Forty-six of 57 items formed a single, reliable manual ability continuum.
- The ABILHAND scale demonstrated a wide measurement range, capturing more difficult activities.
- Items related to self-care and dressing showed consistent performance.
Conclusions:
- The Rasch methodology facilitated the creation of a useful manual (dis)ability scale (ABILHAND).
- Manual ability was established as a unique construct in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- The ABILHAND tool provides a valuable measure of functional capacity in this population.