RESEARCH - Comparing the AUSCAN OA Hand Index, MHQ, and SODA for Patients with RA

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J Rheumatol. 2004 Oct;31(10):1996-2001.

Comparing the AUSCAN Osteoarthritis Hand Index, Michigan Hand Outcomes

Questionnaire, and Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment for

Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Massy-Westropp N, Krishnan J, Ahern M.

From Flinders University; the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,

Flinders Medical Centre; and Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park,

Adelaide, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: The Australian Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN),

Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), and the Sequential

Occupational Dexterity Assessment (SODA) are assessments of hand

function. Investigation of psychometric properties, administration,

acceptability, and content of an assessment add strength to the findings

of research and treatment. We evaluated the validity and reliability of

the AUSCAN, MHQ, and the SODA for assessing disability in patients with

rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Sixty-two patients with RA completed

the AUSCAN (visual analog scale version), the MHQ, and the SODA.

Seventeen patients repeated the assessments within one week. RESULTS:

The assessments recorded high variability within the sample of 62

patients with RA. The AUSCAN and MHQ provided patient and

context-specific information, while the SODA provided more impairment

information that could be readily compared between patients. Seventeen

patients were tested twice within 5 days, showing good reliability of

all assessments. Unlike the MHQ, AUSCAN and SODA do not provide

information about individual hands or hand dominance. The physical

function scales of the AUSCAN and the SODA were related (r = 0.81), and

the AUSCAN and MHQ pain scales were related (r = 0.68).

CONCLUSION: Clinicians and researchers should decide whether impairment,

ability, or handicap outcome is the goal of assessment, and whether

bilateral function or the function of one hand is of interest before

choosing a hand assessment. The AUSCAN and MHQ are valid and reliable

for assessment of hand disability in patients with RA, and they allow

the patients to answer questions about their home environment. The SODA

is also valid and reliable for assessing disability in a clinical

situation that cannot be generalized to the home.

PMID: 15468366

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5468366 & dopt=Abstract

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