Article

OBJECTIVES: To assess the reliability and validity of the Wheelchair Assessment
Instrument for people with Multiple Sclerosis (WAIMS), a test to measure driving
skills in manual wheelchair users with multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN: Three test trials per subject were conducted by 2 raters to examine reliability (inter-
and intrarater) and validity (concurrent and construct). SETTING: A national
multiple sclerosis rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of
manual wheelchair users with MS (n=50), participating in an inpatient or
outpatient rehabilitation program in a national multiple sclerosis center.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The WAIMS consists of 8
items and results in 3 final test scores: ability sum score, performance time sum
score, and covered distance. These 3 scores are used to calculate inter- and
intrarater reliability, concurrent validity, and construct validity. Concerning
validity, the test scores on the WAIMS are compared with (1) the Belgian medical
prescription of a wheelchair on the item d445 (hand and arm use), based on the
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, (2) the
Expanded Disability Status Scale, and (3) the mobility (wheelchair) item of the
FIM. RESULTS: Intrarater reliability was found to be higher than interrater
reliability. Except for the interrater reliability of the ability sum score, all
intraclass correlation coefficients met our standard of 0.80. Concurrent validity
was rather low, but construct validity showed that the WAIMS is a valid
instrument to assess driving skills in manual wheelchair users with MS.
CONCLUSIONS: The WAIMS is a promising tool to assess driving skills in manual
wheelchair users with MS, but it needs some refinements and future studies to
confirm this statement.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS