The Portuguese Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills Measure: Validity and Reliability.

Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS) is a performance-based scale developed in the United States. Because of cultural differences, a Portuguese version was developed, then validated in the Portuguese population and tested ensuring reliability. The objective of this study was to create and test psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of PASS. A linguistic validation on older adults with physical/cognitive disabilities enabled us to validate P-PASS. Some original tasks were changed. Data were analyzed by PASS constructs (independence-safety adequacy), age, and gender. Construct validity (known-group analyses, factor analyses), with 98 individuals yielded excellent results. Reliability between two observers for 30 participants yielded almost perfect agreement for all three constructs. Independence scores were highest, followed by safety and adequacy. Men presented greater independence, as well as participants <60 years. We obtained results comparable with the original version. Conclusion. P-PASS is valid and reliable for the Portuguese population, enabling effective assessment of function and measurement of health outcomes.

Functional assessment in mental health: lessons from occupational therapy.

Occupational therapists have been conducting functional assessments since World War I, and this accumulated experience has taught us several critical lessons. First, a comprehensive profile of a patient's functioning requires multiple assessment methods. Second, assessment content and measurement constructs must change with the times. Third, technology can enhance and extend functional assessment. Fourth, performance-based assessments of everyday activities can also be used to measure body functions/impairments. However, while deconstructing activities into body functions/impairments is possible, the results do not reflect patients' abilities to integrate the cognitive, motor, sensory and affective functions necessary to complete a complex activity. Finally, the differential complexity of everyday activities that a patient can master or successfully complete can also provide a ruler with which to measure progress.

Los terapeutas ocupacionales han realizado evaluaciones funcionales desde la Primera Guerra Mundial, y esta experiencia acumulada nos ha enseñado algunas lecciones importantes. Primero, un perfil comprensivo del funcionamiento de un paciente requiere de mùltiples métodos de evaluación. Segundo, el contenido de la evaluación y los constructos de medición deben cambiar con los tiempos. Tercero, la tecnología puede reforzar y ampliar la evaluación funcional. Cuarto, las evaluaciones basadas en el desempeño de las actividades diarias también se pueden emplear para medir las funciones y deterioros corporales. Sin embargo, aunque es posible la deconstrucción de las actividades en funciones y deterioros corporales, los resultados no reflejan las capacidades de los pacientes para integrar las funciones cognitivas, motoras, sensoriales y afectivas necesarias para completar una actividad compleja. Por último, la complejidad diferencial de las actividades diarias que un paciente puede dominar o completar exitosamente también puede aportar una regla con la cual medir el progreso.

Les ergothérapeutes ont mené des évaluations fonctionnelles depuis la première guerre mondiale et cette accumulation d'expérience nous a enseigné plusieurs leçons essentielles. Tout d'abord, de nombreuses méthodes d'évaluation sont nécessaires pour établir le profil complet du fonctionnement d'un patient. Deuxièmement, le contenu de l'évaluation et les méthodes de mesure doivent évoluer avec le temps. Troisièmement, la technologie peut améliorer et élargir l'évaluation fonctionnelle. Quatrièmement, les évaluations basées sur la performance des activités quotidiennes peuvent aussi être utilisées pour mesurer le fonctionnement du corps (ou les troubles du fonctionnement). Toutefois, bien qu'il soit possible de décomposer les activités du quotidien par fonction, les résultats obtenus ne reflètent pas la manière dont les patients sont capables de coordonner leurs fonctions cognitives, motrices, sensorielles et affectives pour effectuer une activité complexe. Enfin, différents niveaux de complexité des diverses activités quotidiennes qu'un patient peut maîtriser ou exécuter avec succès peuvent aussi fournir une règle permettant de mesurer le progrès.

Test-retest reliability of the functional mobility assessment (FMA): a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Functional mobility is necessary to perform activities of daily living and for community participation for everyone, but especially important for persons with disabilities (PWD). Therefore, functional mobility requires reliable measurement of consumer satisfaction and functional changes. The functional mobility assessment (FMA) instrument is a self-report outcomes tool designed to measure effectiveness of wheeled mobility and seating (WMS) interventions for PWD. This study examined the test-retest reliability of the FMA, and the stability of self-reported performance items. METHOD: A repeated-measures cohort study was conducted at the Center for Assistive Technology, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Participants (n = 41) completed an initial FMA questionnaire, and were re-administered the questionnaire within 7-21 days of the first questionnaire completion. The study sample included 20 participants who were non-WMS users but in the process of being evaluated for a device and 21 participants who were existing WMS users. Intra-Class Correlation coefficients (ICC) were computed to determine agreement between the two scores. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability scores for all items and participants were above the acceptable value for a clinical assessment tool (≥0.80). Responses on the FMA of Existing WMS users and non-WMS users did not differ significantly at test or retest. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the FMA was a reliable and stable tool for assessing the functional performance of individuals who use or need WMS interventions.

The Arabic version of the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory 4: a validation study.

The Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory 4 (MPAI-4) is a valid and reliable assessment tool to detect clinical impairments in patients with acquired brain injury. The tool is widely used by rehabilitation therapists worldwide, given its good psychometric properties and its availability in several languages. The purpose of this study was to translate the tool into Arabic and to examine its validity and reliability with multiple sclerosis and stroke patients. A total of 128 participants were enrolled in this study: 49 with multiple sclerosis, 17 with stroke, and 62 healthy adults. The psychometric properties of discriminative and convergent construct validity as well as test-retest reliability were tested. The translated tool, the Arabic-MPAI-4 (A-MPAI-4), significantly discriminated among the three subgroups (F=50.93, P<0.001), correlated moderately but significantly with the Arabic version of the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills Self-Report as a measure of functional independence in daily activities (r=-0.35, P<0.001), and showed good stability over time (r=0.73, P<0.001). The A-MPAI-4 is a valid and reliable tool for clinical use with multiple sclerosis and stroke patients who speak Arabic.

Association between Cerebral Performance Category, Modified Rankin Scale, and discharge disposition after cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral Performance Category (CPC), Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and discharge disposition are commonly used to determine outcomes following cardiac arrest. This study tested the association between these outcome measures. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of subjects who survived to hospital discharge between 1/1/2006 and 12/31/2009 was conducted. Charts were reviewed for outcomes (CPC, mRS, and discharge disposition). Discharge disposition was classified in 6 categories: home with no services, home with home healthcare, acute rehabilitation facility, skilled nursing facility, long term acute care facility, and hospice. Intra-and inter-rater reliabilities were calculated for outcome measures. Rates of "good outcome" (defined as a CPC of 1-2, mRS of 0-3, or discharge disposition to home or acute rehabilitation facility) were also determined. Kendall's tau correlation coefficients explored relationships among measures. RESULTS: A total of 211 charts were reviewed. Mean age was 60 years (SD 16), the majority (75%) were white males, in- and out-of hospital cardiac arrests were equally prevalent, and ventricular dysrhythmia was most common (N=109, 52%). Half of the subjects were comatose following resuscitation and 75 (35%) received therapeutic hypothermia. Inter-rater percentage agreement for CPC and mRS abstraction was 95.24% (kappa 0.89, p<0.001) and 95.24% (kappa 0.90, p<0.001) respectively. "Good outcomes" were found in 44 subjects (20%) using the CPC definition, 47 subjects (22%) using the mRS definition, and 129 subjects (61%) subjects using discharge disposition definition. There was fair relationship between the CPC and mRS (tau 0.43) and poor relationships between CPC and discharge disposition (tau 0.23) and between mRS and discharge disposition (tau 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the CPC, mRS and discharge disposition at hospital discharge is reliable from chart review. These instruments provide widely differing estimates of "good outcome". Agreement between these measures ranges from poor to fair. A more nuanced outcome measure designed for the post-cardiac arrest population is needed.

Telerehabilitation assessment using the Functioning Everyday with a Wheelchair-Capacity instrument.

This study explored the interrater reliability between a generalist practitioner administering the Functioning Everyday with a Wheelchair-Capacity (FEW-C) in person (IP) and a remote expert practitioner observing via telerehabilitation (TR) from more than 100 miles away. Each of the 46 participants was simultaneously rated by both the IP and TR practitioner, who were masked to each other's results. The IP-TR raters demonstrated excellent interrater reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.91 for the total FEW-C and 0.96, 0.88, and 0.90 for the constructs of independence, safety, and quality, respectively. Internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) was 0.94 for the total FEW-C tool and 0.91, 0.83, and 0.82 for independence, safety, and quality, respectively, indicating good internal consistency without redundancy. Using TR and the FEW-C, an expert practitioner more than 100 miles away was able to accurately assess the functional mobility needs of clients being assessed for new wheeled mobility devices.

Measuring stroke survivors' functional status independence: five perspectives.

An understandable measure to describe disabilities after stroke is important for clinical practice; practitioners often use multiple measures that contain different scoring systems and scales to rate activities of daily living (ADL) independence. We compared the construct of independence in five measures used with stroke survivors. The measures evaluated independence of the stroke survivors somewhat differently. The Rasch analysis Partial Credit Model converted items from these measures to a single metric, yielding an item difficulty hierarchy of all items from the measures. Data from the measures should be interpreted carefully because other concepts or constructs in addition to ADL independence are included in some of the measures. Rasch diagnostics regarding construct validity and reliability of the combined measures also indicated that these measures are not interchangeable. Although the items of the combined ADL measures were unidimensional, they measured independence from multiple perspectives, and the scale of the combined measures was not linear.

Neurological and functional status following cardiac arrest: method and tool utility.

INTRODUCTION: Assessing the neurological and disability status of cardiac arrest (CA) survivors is important for evaluating the outcomes of resuscitation interventions. The Cerebral Performance Category (CPC)--the standard outcome measurement after CA--has been criticized for its poorly defined, subjective criteria, lack of information regarding its psychometric properties, and poor relationships with long-term measures of disability and quality of life (QOL). This study examined the relationships among the CPC and measures of global disability and QOL at discharge from the hospital and at 1 month after CA. METHODS: Twenty-one CA survivors participated in the study. A medical chart review was conducted at the time of discharge to determine CPC and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, while 1-month in-person interview was conducted to collect mRS and Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) scores. Data collected during the interview were used to determine follow-up CPC scores. RESULTS: The strength of relationships among measures at discharge and 1 month ranged between fair to good. An examination of scatter plots revealed substantial variability and a wide distribution of chart review and 1-month mRS and HUI3 scores within each CPC category. CPC scores obtained through chart review were significantly better than the CPC 1-month scores, thus overestimating the participants' cognitive and disability status 1 month later. CONCLUSION: When compared to disability and quality of life measures, it is apparent that the CPC has limited ability to discriminate between mild and moderate brain injury. The validity of using the chart review method for obtaining scores is questionable.

A dynamic seating intervention for wheelchair seating discomfort.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a new user-adjustable wheelchair seating system designed to relieve discomfort for long-duration wheelchair users. DESIGN: This objective was carried out using the newly developed Tool for Assessing Wheelchair disComfort (TAWC) as the primary outcome measure. Two wheelchair users each tested two different designs and feedback from the wheelchair users regarding the first design was used to guide development of the second design. A single-subject research methodology was used, allowing long-duration (up to 2 wks per test) evaluation of the wheelchair seating systems and comparison of subject discomfort levels with those experienced during a baseline period using their own wheelchairs. The experimental wheelchair seating systems employed existing automotive seating with embedded pneumatic bladders that allowed adjustment of the seat and back-support characteristics. The test wheelchair also had tilt, recline, and elevating leg rests. RESULTS: The two subjects completed limited periods of testing with the first design, both finding poor results with either stable or increased levels of discomfort. Subject feedback was used to redesign the wheelchair seat. After redesign, both subjects tested the second design and found it substantially more comfortable. CONCLUSIONS: The selected research methodology was a very positive method for a progressive wheelchair seating design and the second design provided improved comfort for both users when compared with that experienced using their own wheelchairs and the first test wheelchair. Future research of this type of user-controlled technology is recommended.

Dynamic interactions between impairment and activity after stroke: examining the utility of decision analysis methods.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the utility of decision analysis methods for examining the dynamic nature of impairment-activity interactions following stroke. DESIGN: Decision analyses (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector) of a prospective cohort study. SETTING: Community and institutional settings based on the location of participants three months after stroke. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals were recruited from consecutive admissions to a regional academic health center and were assessed three months after stroke (N= 67). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurological impairment was measured with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Mobility, self-care and instrumental activities of daily living (instrumental ADL) performance were assessed with a performance observation measure, the Performance Assessment of Self-care Skills (PASS). Decision analysis methods were used to examine interactions between neurological impairments and activity outcomes. RESULTS: Unique neurological impairments were associated with each activity outcome (bowel and bladder urgency interacted with mobility; hand function interacted with self-care; mental functions interacted with instrumental ADL), and these findings are supported by previous studies. The predictive validity of mobility and self-care analyses was stronger than the instrumental ADL analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Decision analysis methods show promise for understanding dynamic impairment--activity interactions. This understanding may enhance methods for informing rehabilitation decisions.

Test-retest reliability, internal item consistency, and concurrent validity of the wheelchair seating discomfort assessment tool.

Discomfort is a common problem for wheelchair users. Few researchers have investigated discomfort among wheelchair users or potential solutions for this problem. One of the impediments to quantitative research on wheelchair seating discomfort has been the lack of a reliable method for quantifying seat discomfort. The purpose of this study was to establish the test-retest reliability, internal item consistency, and concurrent validity of a newly developed Wheelchair Seating Discomfort Assessment Tool (WcS-DAT). Thirty full-time, active wheelchair users with intact sensation were asked to use this and other tools in order to rate their levels of discomfort in a test-retest reliability study format. Data from these measures were analyzed in SPSS using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) model (2,k) to measure the test-retest reliability. Cronbach's alpha was used to examine the internal consistency of the items within the WcS-DAT. Concurrent validity with similar measures was analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlations. ICC scores for all analyses were above the established lower bound of .80, indicating a highly stable and reliable tool. In addition, alpha scores indicated good consistency of all items without redundancy. Finally, correlations with similar tools, such as the Chair Evaluation Checklist and the Short Form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, were significant at the .05 level, and many were significant at the .001 level. These results support the use of the WcS-DAT as a reliable and stable tool for quantifying wheelchair seating discomfort. Its application will enhance the ability to assess and to research this important problem and will provide a means to validate the outcomes of specialized seating interventions for the study population of wheelchairs users.

Development of a consumer-driven Wheelchair Seating Discomfort Assessment Tool (WcS-DAT).

This study examined the concept of seating discomfort in a population of full-time wheelchair users with intact sensation. The goal was to construct a tool that would quantify seating discomfort experienced by wheelchair users. Ten participants were interviewed using ethnographic interview techniques. Data were analyzed using a cross-classifying matrix to examine commonalities among the 10 participants' responses. There were 16 discomfort and 13 comfort descriptors used by the participants. Of these, eight discomfort and five comfort descriptors were selected to include in the Wheelchair Seating Discomfort Assessment Tool (WcS-DAT). The discomfort descriptors selected were: aches and pains, need to move, pressure points, feeling poorly positioned, unable to concentrate, instability, not comfortable, and feeling too hot, cold or damp. The comfort descriptors selected were: absence of discomfort, feeling good, having no pain, able to concentrate, and feeling stable. The WcS-DAT also includes general information, such as the amount of time spent sitting and whether the individual was transferred into the chair properly--factors thought to affect discomfort--and ratings of discomfort intensity--in general and differentiated by body area. The WcS-DAT is a comprehensive tool for quantification of wheelchair seat discomfort for this population.

Concordance of four methods of disability assessment using performance in the home as the criterion method.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the concordance of 4 methods of disability assessment with the criterion method. Performance testing in the home was selected as the criterion. METHODS: The task performance of 57 community-dwelling older women (>/=70 years) with knee osteoarthritis was examined through self report, proxy report, clinical judgment based on impairment measures, performance testing in an occupational therapy clinic, and performance testing in participants' homes. The 26 tasks represented 4 domains of daily living activities: 5 functional mobility, 3 personal care, 14 cognitively oriented instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and 4 physically oriented IADL. RESULTS: In general, self reports and proxy reports had the highest concordance with in-home performance test results. Nonetheless, even for these methods, depending on task domain, the rate of discordance ranged from 31% to 54%, being least in personal care and greatest in the physically oriented IADL. CONCLUSION: Disability estimates based on self reports, proxy reports, clinical judgments, and hospital performance-based assessments are not interchangeable with in-home task performance.