CLINIMETRICS IN HAND THERAPY: CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF THE COPM IN PARTICIPANTS WITH TENDON INJURY AND DUPUYTREN DISEASE

Background: In patient-centered practice instruments need to assess outcomes that are meaningful to patients with hand conditions. The aim of this study was to establish the construct validity of the COPM in people with hand... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
In patient-centered practice instruments need to assess outcomes that are meaningful to patients with hand conditions.
The aim of this study was to establish the construct validity of the COPM in people with hand conditions. It was hypothesized that COPM scores would correlate with DASH and MHQ total scores to a moderate degree and that the COPM, DASH questionnaire, and MHQ would all correlate weakly with measures of hand impairments.

Methods:
People who had received post-surgery rehabilitation for flexor tendon injuries, extensor tendon injuries, or Dupuytren disease were eligible.The COPM, DASH questionnaire, and MHQ were scored, and then hand impairments were measured.
In addition, patients were asked for their most prominent experienced activity limitations using an open-ended question.

Results:
Seventy-two patients were included. For all diagnosis groups (N=72), the Pearson coefficient of correlation between the DASH questionnaire and the MHQ was higher than the correlation between the COPM- and either the DASH questionnaire or the MHQ. Correlations of these assessment tools with measures of hand impairments were lower.
The estimated mean percentage correspondence with the open-ended question was higher for the COPM than for the DASH or MHQ.

Conclusions: The COPM provides additional information that is not obtained by using currently available self-report measures with predefined items.The results supported the construct validity of the COPM in people with hand conditions.

Application to Practice:
The COPM supports personalized care in a specific manner and is a valuable addition to self-report questionnaires in client-centered rehabilitation of persons with hand conditions.