Psychometric properties of the shortened disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) and Numeric Pain Rating Scale in patients with shoulder pain

Purpose

To examine the psychometric properties of the Shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) in patients with shoulder pain.

Methods

Single-group repeated measures design in which 101 patients presenting to physical therapy completed the QuickDASH and the NPRS at the baseline examination and at a follow-up visit. At the follow-up all patients also completed the Global Rating of Change (GRC), which was used to dichotomize patients as improved or stable. Baseline and follow-up scores were used to determine the test-retest reliability, construct validity and minimal levels of detectable and clinically important change for both the QuickDASH and NPRS.

Results

Test-retest reliability was 0.90 for the QuickDASH and 0.74 for the NPRS. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was 8.0 points for the QuickDASH and 1.1 for the NPRS.

Conclusion

The NPRS and QuickDASH exhibit good test-retest reliability and responsiveness in patients with shoulder pain.

Key Words: Minimal clinically important difference, QuickDASH, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, minimal detectable change, outcomes, physical therapy, reliability, responsiveness