title: Translation into Greek, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH).
abstract: The purpose of this study was to translate, adapt, and validate a Greek version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire. The English version of DASH was translated into Greek (DASH-GR) and cultural adaptation was performed. Subsequently, psychometric properties and validity were assessed in 106 consecutive eligible patients presenting with a variety of unilateral upper limb disorders. All patients completed the Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire and the DASH-GR. Test-retest reliability was assessed in a subgroup of 35 patients who filled in the questionnaire seven days later. The internal consistency of the 30 items of the DASH-GR, estimated by the internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.96. The difference between the individual scores of the initial assessment and reassessment of the DASH ranged from -6.5 to 14.5 (mean difference was 3.74 (SD+/-6.1)). The correlation coefficient between total scores of the initial assessment and reassessment was high (Pearson's r=0.918, p<0.0005) (Kentall tau-b=0.72, p<0.001). The correlation coefficient between the DASH-GR and SF-36 total scores was 0.625 (p<0.001), showing a strong correlation between the two questionnaires. The Greek version of the DASH retains the characteristics of the English original and is a reliable and valid instrument that can provide a standardized measure of patient-centered outcomes in Greek-speaking patients with unilateral disorders of the upper limb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece. themistocleousgeorge@hotmail.com
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Themistocleous
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goudelis
authors.forename: Ioulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kyrou
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Chloros
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krokos
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galanos
authors.forename: Nikolaos E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Gerostathopoulos
authors.forename: Panayotis N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Soucacos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007803:Language Arts; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*