Abstract
Objective
To develop and validate a quick observational clinical tool, the Functional ASsessment
Test for Upper Limb (FAST-UL), for the evaluation of upper limb impairment in goal-directed
functional-oriented motor tasks after stroke.
Design
Observational, cross-sectional, psychometric study.
Setting
Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation clinic.
Participants
A total of 188 post-stroke survivors (mean age 65.2±17.7 years, 61% men, 48% with
ischemic stroke and 66% in the sub-acute phase; N=188).
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Principal component analysis and Rasch analysis through a Partial Credit Model were
used to assess the structure and psychometric properties of the 5 items of the FAST-UL
(Hand to Mouth [HtM], Reach to Target, Prono-Supination, Grasp and Release, and Pinch
and Release [PaR]).
Results
The Cronbach's α equal to 0.96 was indicative of an acceptable internal consistency;
the reliability, as measured through the Person Separation Reliability equal to 0.87,
was good. The FAST-UL tool was unidimensional. All the FAST-UL items were found to
fit well the Rasch measurement model. The easiest to perform FAST-UL item was the
HtM movement while the most difficult was the PaR movement.
Conclusions
The FAST-UL is a quick, easy-to-administer observational assessment tool of upper
limb motor impairment in post-stroke survivors with good item-level psychometric properties.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
FAST-UL (Functional Assessment Test for Upper Limb), GaR (Grasp and Release), HtM (Hand to Mouth), ICF (International Classification of Functioning), MnSq (mean square standardized residuals), PaR (Pinch and Release), PS (Prono-supination), RtT (Reach to Target), UL (upper limb)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 01, 2022
Accepted:
October 11,
2022
Received in revised form:
August 11,
2022
Received:
March 15,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
