Article

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Manual Ability
Measure-36 (MAM-36), a new hand function outcome measure, and to examine
differences in manual abilities and item parameters in patients with neurologic
and musculoskeletal conditions. DESIGN: Convenience sample from 2 time periods,
cross-sectional. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation units and private hand
clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=337; mean age, 50.3+/-14.9y) with a variety of
neurologic and musculoskeletal (orthopedic) diagnoses. Most of these individuals
were community dwelling, and all had residual functional limitations in the
hand(s). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rasch analysis was
performed on MAM-36 data to evaluate both scale structure and psychometric
properties, which include rating distribution, step measures, item fit,
separation, and dimensionality. A t test was performed to examine the differences
in manual abilities in patients with the 2 conditions. Uniform differential item
functioning (DIF) between neurologic and musculoskeletal groups was examined.
(DIF occurs when subgroup members within the sample with the same level of the
underlying trait being measured respond differently to an individual item.)
Manual ability estimates were recalibrated with step and common item anchoring;
they were compared with those derived from the original analysis. RESULTS: The 36
items measured a single construct with no misfitting items. The scale was used as
intended. The items can reliably separate the participants into 5 ability strata.
Neurologic patients had a significantly lower mean manual ability than
musculoskeletal patients. Fourteen items exhibited DIF. However, DIF had no
effect on either scale quality or calibration of manual ability. We decided that
a single rating scale is appropriate for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study
showed that the MAM-36 has more than adequate psychometric properties and can be
used as a generic outcome measure for patients with a wide variety of clinical
diagnoses.
CI - Copyright 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS