Construct validity of the DynaPort KneeTest: a comparison with observations of physical therapists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the construct validity of the DynaPort KneeTest (KneeTest), which is a performance-based test to assess functioning of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Scores on the KneeTest (KneeScore) were compared with observations of physical therapists of the patients' functional disability. The reliability of these observations was also assessed.


METHODS
Twelve physical therapists received identical video tapes showing the performance of 33 patients on the KneeTest. Each physical therapist rated the functional disability of each patient, performing the 23 activities of the KneeTest, on 23 Visual Analogue Scales (VAS(activity)). The 23 VAS(activity) scores were averaged into a VAS(average) score. At the end of the test, an overall rating for the general performance of the patient was given on a VAS(overall). Inter-observer Reliability was assessed for the VAS(activity) scores, VAS(average), and the VAS(overall).


RESULTS
Inter-observer reliability of the VAS(average) was higher (ICC 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.92) than the VAS(overall) (ICC 0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.77). The correlation between the KneeScore and the VAS(average), averaged over the 12 physiotherapists, was 0.86.


CONCLUSIONS
The construct validity of the KneeTest was supported by the strong correlation with the ratings of the patients' disability by physical therapists. Given these findings and the high test-retest reliability of the KneeTest that was found in our previous study, we conclude that the KneeTest is a valid measure for assessing functioning in orthopedic and physical therapy research in patients with knee-OA before and after total knee replacement. Longitudinal validity has to be evaluated yet.
Mokkink
Lidwine B
LB
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Terwee
Caroline B
CB
van Lummel
Rob C
RC
de Witte
Simon J
SJ
Wetzels
Leo
L
Bouter
Lex M
LM
de Vet
Henrica C W
HC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D015203:Reproducibility of Results