title: Reliability and construct validity studies of an obstacle course assessment of wheelchair user performance.
abstract: The objective of this study is to evaluate the reliability and construct validity of an obstacle course assessment of wheelchair user performance (OCAWUP). Seventeen experienced wheelchair users using three different propulsion methods (two hands, one hand and one foot or motorized wheelchair) were assessed twice on the 10 obstacles of the OCAWUP. To evaluate reliability, time (in seconds) and degree of ease (DE) in overcoming obstacles (four-level scale) were assessed by three occupational therapists. Construct validity was assessed by verifying whether the OCAWUP's global score of ease (GSE) varied with wheelchair propulsion methods and the functional independence measure (FIM). Intraclass correlation coefficients calculated for reliability of time and GSE were up to 0.74 for test-retest reliability and up to 0.97 for interrater reliability. Cohen's kappa coefficients calculated for DE reliabilities varied from 0.09 to 1.0 with degrees of association up to 65%. A significant difference (P<or =0.01) in GSE scores is shown between propulsion methods. A high significant correlation (rs=0.84, P< or =0.05) was found between GSE and scores of FIM items associated with mobility. Reliability of time and GSE is substantial or better. Reliability of DE is not as good, with a few items indicating poor reliability. OCAWUP's construct validity is good.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Institut de Réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. Francois.Routhier@rea.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Routhier
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desrosiers
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nadeau
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014910:Wheelchairs