Test-retest reliability and responsiveness of a French Canadian Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI-FC)

摘要

Purpose: The Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI) is a self-report questionnaire assessing activity limitations and participation restrictions resulting from an upper limb musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). A French Canadian version of the ULFI (ULFI-FC) has recently demonstrated good internal consistency, and convergent validity, as well as clinical applicability in a rehabilitation context where clinicians have important time constraints. This study aimed to examine the test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the ULFI-FC. Methods: In order to study the ULFI-FC's responsiveness, 60 participants completed the ULFI-FC and a French Canadian version of the DASH (DASH-FC) twice at an interval of two to six weeks, based on the evolution of their upper limb MSD. Half of the sample also completed the ULFI-FC three days after the second assessment for the test-retest reliability analysis. Results: The ULFI-FC demonstrated high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.92-0.97) and good internal responsiveness (Cohen's d = 0.49-0.62; standardized responsive means = 0.60-0.88). External responsiveness was further supported by moderate correlations of change scores with the DASH-FC (r = 0.42-0.64). Conclusions: Study findings support the use of the ULFI-FC in rehabilitation as an outcome measure to monitor activity limitations and participation restrictions among French-speaking patients presenting with upper limb MSD.