Assessment of unidimensionality of physical functioning in patients receiving therapy in acute, orthopedic outpatient centers.
Physical functioning is a common construct of interest for patients receiving rehabilitation. This report describes the assessment of hierarchial structure, unidimensionality and reproducibility of item calibrations along the continuum of physical functioning defined by the PF-10 of the MOS SF-36. Three new questions specific to patients with upper extremity impairments were added, and item calibrations were compared across several groups of patients with different musculoskeletal impairments. Reproducibility of item calibrations over testing times was supported. Item order was dependent on impairment in a clinically logical pattern. Construct validity of the physical functioning scale was supported and improved with the new questions for patients with upper extremity impairments as well as for patients with some lower level extremity impairments.
Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc., 551 Yopps Cove Rd., White Stone, VA 22578, USA. hart@fotoinc.com
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D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D015982:Bias; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009985:Orthopedics; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors