Abstract
de Laat FA, Rommers GM, Geertzen JH, Roorda LD. Construct validity and test-retest
reliability of the Climbing Stairs Questionnaire in lower-limb amputees.
Objective
To investigate the construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Climbing
Stairs Questionnaire, a patient-reported measure of activity limitations in climbing
stairs, in lower-limb amputees.
Design
A cross-sectional study.
Setting
Outpatient department of a rehabilitation center.
Participants
Lower-limb amputees (N=172; mean ± SD age, 65±12y; 71% men; 82% vascular cause) participated
in the study; 33 participated in the reliability study.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Construct validity was investigated by testing 10 hypotheses: limitations in climbing
stairs according to the Climbing Stairs Questionnaire will be greater in lower-limb
amputees who: (1) are older, (2) have a vascular cause of amputation, (3) have a bilateral
amputation, (4) have a higher level of amputation, (5) have more comorbid conditions,
(6) had their rehabilitation treatment in a nursing home, and (7) climb fewer flights
of stairs. Furthermore, limitations in climbing stairs will be related positively
to activity limitations according to: (8) the Locomotor Capabilities Index, (9) the
Questionnaire Rising and Sitting down, and (10) the Walking Questionnaire. Construct
validity was quantified by using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability
was assessed with a 3-week interval and quantified using the intraclass correlation
coefficient (ICC).
Results
Construct validity (8 of 10 null hypotheses not rejected) and test-retest reliability
were good (ICC=.79; 95% confidence interval, .57–.90).
Conclusion
The Climbing Stairs Questionnaire has good construct validity and test-retest reliability
in lower-limb amputees.
Key Words
List of Abbreviations:
CI (confidence interval), FCI (Functional Comorbidity Index), GRCQ (Global Rating of Change Questionnaire), ICC (intraclass correlation coefficient), LCI (Locomotor Capabilities Index)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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© 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
