title: Participation in community walking following stroke: subjective versus objective measures and the impact of personal factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mobility, specifically community walking, is important, but often limited among survivors of stroke. The factors that influence the recovery of community walking are not clearly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research was to examine mobility disability following stroke, specifically: (1) the association between subjective and objective measures of participation in community walking and (2) the association between personal factors and participation in community walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty community-dwelling survivors of stroke, aged 50 to 79 years, were enrolled in the study. Participation in community walking was measured subjectively (perceived difficulty and satisfaction) and objectively using self-report data (number of trips and walking-related activities) and step data (pedometer). The association between subjective and objective measures of participation was analyzed using Pearson correlation. The association of personal factors (age, sex, number of comorbidities, fatigue, depression, balance and fall self-efficacy, and importance of walking) with measures of participation was analyzed using multiple linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective and objective measures of participation were weakly associated. Self-efficacy was the only personal factor that was strongly associated with both subjective and objective measures of participation. Personal factors explained 27% to 55% of the variability in participation in community walking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limitations included a small sample size and limited diversity among participants. Reliability of the pedometer used in this study has not been established in the stroke population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective and objective measures of participation in community walking were only weakly correlated, suggesting that they measure different aspects of mobility; thus, to fully capture participation, it is critical to measure both. Personal factors were associated with subjective and objective measures of participation and are important in explaining variability in community walking following stroke.
authors: Division of Physical Therapy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. cyndirob@u.washington.edu
authors: Cynthia A
authors: CA
authors: Robinson
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Shumway-Cook
authors: Marcia A
authors: MA
authors: Ciol
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Kartin
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D004856:Postural Balance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report; D058992:Social Participation; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*