title: Reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Arabic version of the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH-Arabic).
abstract: To investigate the psychometric properties (reliability, validity and responsiveness) of the DASH-Arabic in a cohort of Arabic patients presenting with various upper extremity conditions.
  
  
  
  Participants were 139 patients with various upper extremity conditions, who completed the DASH-Arabic at the baseline, 2-5 days later and 30-36 days later. Participants completed demographic data forms, the SF-36 and VAS at baseline, and a Global Rating of Change scale at first and second follow-ups.
  
  
  
  Cronbach's alpha of the DASH-Arabic was 0.94. Test-retest reliability was excellent with an ICC of 0.97. The SEM was 3.50 and the MDC95 was 9.28. Construct validity of the DASH-Arabic with the SF-36 subscales and VAS scores ranged from r -0.32 to -0.57, all statistically significant (p < 0.001). The effect size (ES) for the DASH-Arabic was 1.39 and its standard response mean was 1.51. The area under the curve was 0.82 (95% CI = 0.72-0.92, p < 0.001). The optimally efficient cutoff for an improvement was found to be a difference of 15 DASH points.
  
  
  
  The DASH-Arabic is a reliable, valid and responsive upper extremity outcome measure for patients whose primary language is Arabic; it can be used to document patient status and outcomes and support evidence-based practice. Implications for Rehabilitation The DASH-Arabic demonstrated sound psychometric properties of reliability, validity and responsiveness. It is an effective patient status and outcome tool that will support evidence-based practice. This tool is recommended for evaluating upper extremity work-related injuries and tracking therapeutic outcomes.
authors: a Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences , Kuwait University , Sulaibekhat , Kuwait ;
authors: Naser M
authors: NM
authors: Alotaibi
authors: b Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences , Kuwait University , Sulaibekhat , Kuwait.
authors: Sameera H
authors: SH
authors: Aljadi
authors: b Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences , Kuwait University , Sulaibekhat , Kuwait.
authors: Hesham N
authors: HN
authors: Alrowayeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014177:Translations; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Assessment procedures; Kuwait; evidence-based practice; outcome measure; psychometric properties