title: The Alderson-McGall hand function questionnaire for patients with Carpal Tunnel syndrome: a pilot evaluation of a future outcome measure.
abstract: The Alderson-McGall hand function questionnaire (AMHFQ) was developed to evaluate outcomes for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This pilot evaluation of 17 subjects with CTS involved the same battery completed twice prior to CTS release. The complete battery included evaluation of grip and pinch strength, static and dynamic two-point discrimination, dexterity using the Valpar Worksample for upper extremity range of motion, pain and hand function using visual analog scales (VASs), and the AMHFQ. The results indicated high internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.97. Intraclass correlation showed test-retest reliability in the 95th percentile for all items except one. Validity was demonstrated by AMHFQ correlations with all other battery items in the correct direction and significant correlations with dynamic two-point discrimination (r = -0.32), functional VAS (r = 0.3688), pain VAS (r = 0.36), and grip strength (r = 0.3867). These results suggest that the AMHFQ has clinical utility for patients with CTS. Further research to confirm these findings and determine sensitivity to change is required.
authors.affiliation: St Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alderson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGall
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012858:Size Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch