Abstract
Retrospective cohort design. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QDASH) has been established using a pool of multiple conditions, and only exclusively for the shoulder. Understanding diagnoses-specific threshold change values can enhance the clinical decision-making process. Before and after QDASH scores for 406 participants with conditions of surgical distal radius fracture, non-surgical lateral epicondylitis, and surgical carpal tunnel release were obtained. The external anchor administered at each fourth visit was a 15-point global rating of change scale. The test-retest reliability of the QDASH was moderate for all diagnoses: intraclass correlation coefficient model 2, 1, for surgical distal radius = 0.71; non-surgical lateral epicondylitis = 0.69; and surgical carpal tunnel = 0.69. The minimum detectable change at the 90% confidence level was 25.28; 22.49; and 27.63 points respectively; and the MCID values were 25.8; 15.8 and 18.7, respectively. For these three distal upper extremity conditions, a QDASH MCID of 16–26 points could represent the estimate of change in score that is important to the patient and guide clinicians through the decision-making process.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 81-88 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Hand Therapy |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016
Keywords
- Disability evaluation
- Musculoskeletal diseases
- Outcome assessment
- Psychometrics
- Rehabilitation
- Upper extremity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation