title: Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory-9 (CAHAI-9): perceived clinical utility within 14 days of stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory-9 (CAHAI-9) is an activity-based assessment developed to include relevant functional tasks and to be sensitive to clinically important changes in upper limb function. The aim of this study was to explore both therapists' and clients' views on the clinical utility of CAHAI-9 within 14 days of stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one occupational therapists actively working in stroke settings were recruited by convenience sampling from 8 hospitals and participated in semistructured focus groups. Five clients within 14 days of stroke were recruited by consecutive sampling from 1 metropolitan hospital and participated in structured individual interviews. The transcripts were analyzed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six themes emerged from the focus groups and interviews: collecting information, decisions regarding client suitability, administration and scoring, organizational demands, raising awareness, and clients' perceptions of CAHAI-9 utility. All therapists agreed CAHAI-9 was suited for the stroke population and assisted identification of client abilities or difficulties within functional contexts. Opinions varied as to whether CAHAI-9 should be routinely administered with clients who had mild and severe upper limb deficits, but therapists agreed it was appropriate for clients with moderate deficits. Therapists made suggestions regarding refinement of the scoring and training to increase utility. All clients with stroke felt that the assessment provided reassurance regarding their recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that CAHAI-9 shows promise as an upper limb ability assessment for clients within 14 days of stroke.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Research Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Tennille Jane
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: Merrill
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turpin
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: Robert David
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Stephen James
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation