Validity of the TEMPA for the measurement of upper limb function in multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate concurrent and construct validity of the TEMPA (Test d'Evaluation de la performance des Membres Supérieurs des Personnes Agées) in patients with upper limb dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
Forty-three patients with upper limb dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
Patients performed upper limb tests and were assessed on measures of functional independence.


METHODS
National Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melsbroek, Belgium.


METHODS
TEMPA, Jebsen Handfunction Test, Nine Hole Peg Test, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and activities of daily living (ADL) self-questionnaire.


RESULTS
The correlation between TEMPA and Jebsen Handfunction and the Nine Hole Peg test respectively is good (0.56-0.87) and high (0.79-0.9). The correlation between TEMPA and the FIM and ADL self-questionnaire was moderate (0.44-0.61) although mostly higher than the correlation between the Jebsen Handfunction and the Nine Hole Peg test respectively and the measures of functionality (0.22-0.55/0.1-0.47).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides data supporting the concurrent validity of the TEMPA with the Jebsen Handfunction and the Nine Hole Peg Test in patients with multiple sclerosis. The results suggest construct validity of the TEMPA for the measurement of functionality during activities of daily life in patients with upper limb dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis.
Feys
P
P
National Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melsbroek, Belgium. Peter.Feys@flok.kuleuven.ac.be
Duportail
M
M
Kos
D
D
Van Asch
P
P
Ketelaer
P
P
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*