Construct validity and test-retest reliability of the climbing stairs questionnaire in lower-limb amputees.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Climbing Stairs Questionnaire, a patient-reported measure of activity limitations in climbing stairs, in lower-limb amputees.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Outpatient department of a rehabilitation center.


METHODS
Lower-limb amputees (N=172; mean +/- SD age, 65+/-12y; 71% men; 82% vascular cause) participated in the study; 33 participated in the reliability study.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Construct validity was investigated by testing 10 hypotheses: limitations in climbing stairs according to the Climbing Stairs Questionnaire will be greater in lower-limb amputees who: (1) are older, (2) have a vascular cause of amputation, (3) have a bilateral amputation, (4) have a higher level of amputation, (5) have more comorbid conditions, (6) had their rehabilitation treatment in a nursing home, and (7) climb fewer flights of stairs. Furthermore, limitations in climbing stairs will be related positively to activity limitations according to: (8) the Locomotor Capabilities Index, (9) the Questionnaire Rising and Sitting down, and (10) the Walking Questionnaire. Construct validity was quantified by using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability was assessed with a 3-week interval and quantified using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).


RESULTS
Construct validity (8 of 10 null hypotheses not rejected) and test-retest reliability were good (ICC=.79; 95% confidence interval, .57-.90).


CONCLUSIONS
The Climbing Stairs Questionnaire has good construct validity and test-retest reliability in lower-limb amputees.
de Laat
Fred A
FA
Rehabilitation Centre Leijpark, Tilburg, The Netherlands. f.delaat@rcleijpark.nl
Rommers
Gerardus M
GM
Geertzen
Jan H
JH
Roorda
Leo D
LD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires