The suitcase packing activity: A new evaluation of hand function.
METHODS
Prospective, repeated-measures study.


BACKGROUND
Understanding individual hand function can assist therapists with the process of determining relevant treatment approaches and realistic therapeutic outcomes. At this point in time, a composite test that assesses both unilateral and bimanual hand function in relation to a functional activity is not available.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the reliability and validity of the suitcase packing activity (SPA).


METHODS
An expert panel established face and content validity. Eighty healthy, English-speaking volunteers aged between 18 and 45 years were randomly assigned to either 1 or 2 sessions (test-retest reliability). Relative agreement between 2 examiners using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)3,1determined interrater reliability. Test-retest reliability was determined by using a repeated-measures analysis of variance and an ICC3,2. Concurrent validity was evaluated against 2 well-established hand evaluations using separate tests of correlational coefficients.


RESULTS
Face and content validity were established across 4 focus groups. Our results demonstrate good to excellent interrater reliability (ICC3,1≥ 0.93) and good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC3,2≥ 0.83). SPA scores were moderately correlated with the 2-hand evaluations.


CONCLUSIONS
Through evaluating hand function during participation in a goal-directed activity (eg, packing a suitcase), the SPA exhibits promise in usefulness as a future viable outcome measure that can be used to assess functional abilities following a hand injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The SPA is a valid and reliable tool for assessing bimanual and unilateral hand function in healthy subjects.


METHODS
Diagnostic level II.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA. Electronic address: matthew.l.baumann2.mil@mail.mil.
Matthew L
ML
Baumann
Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE), Joint Base San Antonio-Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA; Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Jill M
JM
Cancio
Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Kathleen E
KE
Yancosek
Functional outcome measure; Hand assessment; Hand function; Hand therapy; Outcomes assessment; Treatment outcome