title: Development and evaluation of the activities measure for upper limb amputees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) To develop a measure of activities for adults with upper limb amputation: the Activities Measure for Upper Limb Amputees (AM-ULA); and (2) to conduct initial psychometric evaluation of the measure.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cohort study where the prototype measure was administered twice within 1 week. Tests were videotaped and graded by 2 independent raters. Interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and minimal detectable change were estimated. Known group validity was examined using analyses of variance comparing scores of transradial, transhumeral, and shoulder level amputees. Convergent validity was examined by correlating AM-ULA scores with dexterity tests and self-reported function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital outpatient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (N=52) with upper limb amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for test-retest reliability were .88 to .91. ICCs for interrater reliability were .84 to .89. Cronbach alphas were .89 to .91. The minimal detectable change at the 90% confidence interval was 3.7 points. Subjects with more distal levels of limb loss had better scores than those with more proximal levels (P<.01). The AM-ULA was moderately correlated with most dexterity tests and self-reported function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AM-ULA is a new measure of activity performance for adults with upper limb amputation that considers task completion, speed, movement quality, skillfulness of prosthetic use, and independence in its rating system. It has good interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, and demonstrated known group validity.
authors.affiliation: Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA. Linda.Resnik@va.gov
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Resnik
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgia
authors.forename: Jemy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delikat
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Disla
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: Lisa Smurr
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Walters
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000674:Amputees; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D034941:Upper Extremity; D014743:Videotape Recording