title: Minimal detectable change of the London chest activity of daily living scale in patients with COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dyspnea and fatigue frequently impair the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Questionnaires and scales have been used to assess limitations in ADL. The London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) scale is responsive to intervention to a higher extent when compared with other tools. However, the minimal detectable change (MDC) for this scale remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the MDC for functional status improvement measured by the LCADL scale in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients (20 men, 66 ± 7 years, forced expired volume in 1 second 44 ± 16% predicted) participated in a 3-month high-intensity exercise training program. Before and after the protocol, participants complete the LCADL scale and the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire. To calculate the MDC, we used the standard error of measurement and the effect size (distribution-based estimates).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was improvement in the LCADL self-care, domestic and leisure domains, and total score after the training program, with a strong trend for improvement in the physical activity domain. The MDC estimated for the LCADL were 0.89, 2.60, 0.44, 0.58, and 3.88 points for self-care, domestic, physical, and leisure domains, and total score, respectively. Correlations between changes in LCADL and in the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire were weak (r < 0.4 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided the MDC for the domains and total score of the LCADL. A change of 4 points in the total score of the LCADL can be interpreted as a meaningful change.
authors: Laboratory of Research in Respiratory Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil (Mss Bisca, Proença, and Salomão and Drs Hernandes and Pitta); and Research Centre in Health Sciences, North Parana University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil (Dr Hernandes).
authors: Gianna Waldrich
authors: GW
authors: Bisca
authors: Mahara
authors: M
authors: Proença
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Salomão
authors: Nidia A
authors: NA
authors: Hernandes
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Pitta
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D065327:Circuit-Based Exercise; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires