Finnish Version of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS2) is Reliable and Valid in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Finnish Version of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS2) is

Reliable and Valid in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

A DGReview of : " Evaluation of the arthritis impact measurement scales

(AIMS2) in Finnish patients with rheumatoid arthritis "

Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology

01/07/2004

By Emma Hitt, PhD

A study in Finnish patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) indicates that

the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS2) is a reliable and valid

instrument for measuring health status in these patients.

The AIMS2, established in 1992, is a multidimensional, disease-specific,

self-administered questionnaire designed to measure improvements in health

status in patients with arthritis.

Marja Arkela-Kautiainen, MD, with the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital,

Heinola, Finland, and colleagues evaluated the validity and reliability of

the Finnish version of the AIMS2 in Finnish patients with RA in order to

ensure that cultural and linguistic differences did not reduce its

usefulness.

The reliability of the Finnish AIMS2 (Finn-AIMS2) questionnaire was assessed

by test retest procedure and internal consistency of health-status scales.

In addition, the researchers assessed construct validity by factor analysis,

and convergent validity by correlation coefficients, with several disease

activity and functional status variables.

A total of 107 patients, 93 female and 14 male, completed the Finn-AIMS2

questionnaire. Internal consistency was 0.79-0.89, and test retest

reliability was 0.72-0.97. Factor analysis identified 3 factors: physical,

psychosocial, and pain.

The results of the Finn-AIMS2 health-status scales were strongly correlated

with those of the Health Assessment Questionnaire. In addition, there were

significant correlations between physically related Finn-AIMS2 scales and

patient assessment of pain, patient overall assessment, physician overall

assessment, and functional class. In contrast, Finn-AIMS2 scales and

duration of disease and number of swollen joints were not correlated.

" We found Finn-AIMS2 to be a reliable and valid instrument, providing an

excellent tool for the assessment of middle-aged patient outcomes in RA, "

the researchers conclude.

" The validity and reliability of the Finnish version also confirms the

usefulness of AIMS2 internationally, " they add.

Scand J Rheumatol 2003;32:300-305.