Psychometric Testing Of The Finnish Version Of The Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire

Validity and Reliability of the Finnish Version of the Locomotor Capabilities Index-5 in Patients Fitted with a Prosthesis after Major Lower Extremity Amputation

Psychometric Properties Of The Finnish Version Of The Locomotor Capabilities Index-5

Rasch analysis of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale for foot and ankle patients.

Purpose: The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is a widely used 20-item patient-reported outcome instrument with five response categories. We investigated the measurement properties of the Finnish version of the LEFS among foot and ankle patients to refine the scale to measure more accurately what is relevant for patients.Materials and methods: Data were obtained from 182 patients who had undergone foot and ankle surgery for various reasons. The Rasch Measurement Theory and Cronbach's alpha were employed for analyses of model and item fit, response category thresholds, targeting, person separation index, and internal consistency.Results: Threshold misfit was noted in 13 of the 20 item…

Asymmetry of gait after free flap reconstruction of severe tibial fractures with extensive soft-tissue damage.

Gait patterns of the preferred speed were investigated on 17 patients recovering (9 months-14 years) after reconstruction of severe tibial fractures. A novel data-acquisition system was used to record the plantar pressures as well as electromyographic (EMG) activities during walking. The results indicated incomplete recovery of symmetrical gait patterns. In particular, the duration of the stance phase was shorter on the operated side (mean (SD) 701 (90) ms compared with 765 (128) ms, p < 0.001). The peak pressure points under the foot were different on bilateral comparison, the operated side being regularly higher under the lateral forefoot area. This may imply attempts to reduce the loadin…

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the prosthesis evaluation questionnaire

Background: Thus far there have been no specific patient-reported outcome instrument in Finnish for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment after major lower extremity amputation and successful prosthesis fitting. Methods: The prosthesis evaluation questionnaire (PEQ) was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Finnish. Participants completed a questionnaire package including the Finnish version of the PEQ and the 15 D HRQoL instrument. Scales (n = 10) were tested for internal consistency, floor-ceiling effect, and reproducibility for which participants completed the PEQ twice within a 2-week interval. Validity was tested by estimating the correlation between the 15 D index a…

Validation of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index in Patients Having Undergone Ankle Fracture Surgery

The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) that is widely used to evaluate the pain, stiffness, and physical function of patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Although the WOMAC has also been used for patients after foot and ankle surgery, it has not been validated for this purpose. A total of 130 patients with surgically treated ankle fractures completed the WOMAC, Visual Analogue Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS FA), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), 15D Health-Related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (15D), and Visual Analog Scale for General Health (VAS general health) after foot and ankle surgery. The…

Psychometric Properties Of The Finnish Version Of The Lower Extremity Functional Scale Among Foot And Ankle Patients

Assessment of the structural validity of three foot and ankle specific patient-reported outcome measures

Background: The structural validity of the Lower extremity functional scale (LEFS), the Visual analogue scale foot and ankle (VAS-FA), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) has not been compared earlier in patients after foot and ankle surgery. Methods: Altogether 165 previously operated patients completed the foot and ankle specific instruments, the 15D health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument, and general health (VAS). Results: The LEFS, the VAS-FA and the WOMAC had slight differences in their measurement properties. The VAS-FA had the best targeting and coverage. All three foot and ankle measures accounted for mobility and usual activitie…

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the Visual Analogue Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS-FA).

Background: There have previously been no validated foot and ankle-specific patient-reported outcome measures in Finnish. Methods: The Visual Analogue Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS-FA) was translated and adapted into Finnish. Thereafter, 165 patients who had undergone foot and ankle surgery completed a questionnaire set on two separate occasions. Analyses included testing of floor-ceiling effect, internal consistency, reproducibility, and validity. Results: Minor linguistic differences emerged during the translation. Some structural adjustments were made. The mean (SD) total VAS-FA score was 74 (23). In the three subscales, maximum scores were noted in 2-5% of the responses, and internal consis…

Linguistic Validation Of The Finnish Version Of The Visual Analogue Scale Foot And Ankle Instrument

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)

The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) among foot and ankle patients.The LEFS was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Finnish. We assessed the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, floor-ceiling effect, construct validity and criterion validity in patients who underwent surgery due to musculoskeletal pathology of the foot and ankle (N = 166).The test-retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91-0.95). The standard error of measurement was 4.1 points. The Finnish LEFS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.96). A slight ceiling effect occurred as 17% achieved the …