ABSTRACT
Abstract
Background:
The Functional Index for
Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA) is a simple, reliable, and reproducible specific instrument to evaluate
hand OA that can be applied both in clinical practice and
research protocols. In order to be used in
Brazil, FIHOA has to be translated into Portuguese, culturally adapted and have the reliability of the translated FIHOA version tested, which is the purpose of this study.
Methods:
The FIHOA was translated into Brazilian Portuguese and administered to 68
patients with
hand OA recruited between May 2019 and February 2020. The test-retest was applied to 32
patients and the reliability was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. External
construction validity was assessed using the Spearman's correlation test between FIHOA and
pain, assessed with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Cochin
Hand Functional Scale (CHFS) and
Health Assessment
Questionnaire (HAQ).
Results:
The 30 participants that initially answered the translated version of the FiHOA did not
report difficulties in
understanding or interpreting the translated version. The
test-retest reliability for the total score was strong ( r =0.86; ICC = 0.89). Mean differences (1.37 ± 0.68) using Bland Altman's
analysis did not significantly differ from zero and no
systematic bias was observed. Cronbach's alpha was also high (0.89) suggesting a strong internal coherence in the test items. There were also correlations between FIHOA and the CHFS ( r =0.88), HAQ ( r = 0.64) and
pain in the
hands both at
rest ( r =0.55) and in
motion ( r =0.44).
Conclusion:
The translation of the FIHOA into Brazilian Portuguese proved a valid instrument for measuring the functional capacity of
patients with
hand OA
who understand Brazilian Portuguese.