Reproducibility, construct validity and responsiveness of the Tetraplegia Upper Limb Activities Questionnaire, TUAQ. Part 2.: Psychometric testing of TUAQ.

Abstract

To test reliability, construct validity and responsiveness of the Tetraplegic Upper limb Activity Questionnaire (TUAQ), a patient report outcome measure that assesses perceived performance and satisfaction with ten standardized activities. Outcome measure psychometric evaluation. Spinal cord injury units in two countries. Reproducibility: 47 individuals with tetraplegia. Construct validity and responsiveness: 33 individuals with tetraplegia undergoing surgery to restore hand function. Reproducibility: The TUAQ was completed on two occasions, two weeks apart. Construct validity and responsiveness: Participants completed the TUAQ prior to surgery and 3-12 months following hand reconstruction surgery. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach alpha. Two agreement parameters were examined: the standard error of measurement (SEM) and MDC90. Construct validity was evaluated using Pearson's product moment correlation against a priori hypotheses. Responsiveness was assessed using paired t tests and effect size. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency was high (ICCs .89 for performance scale and .88 for satisfaction, Cronbach alpha of .92 and .90 respectively). For agreement the standard error of measurement scores were 4.7 and 3.5, with a MDC90 of 10.9 and 8.2 respectively. Responsiveness and construct validity showed sound results with no ceiling or floor effects and with large effect size (>1.05). TUAQ demonstrates good psychometric properties for reliability and agreement for persons with tetraplegia and responsiveness and construct validity for surgical reconstruction of hand function for persons with tetraplegia. The TUAQ appears appropriate to be used as a patient reported outcome measure for clinical and research purposes in this population.