Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Volume 19, Issue 3 , Pages 342-348, April 2010

The reliability and validity of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, EuroQol-5D, Health Utilities Index, and Short Form-6D outcome instruments in patients with proximal humeral fractures

  • Gerard P. Slobogean, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
    • ,
  • Vanessa K. Noonan, PhD, PT

      Affiliations

    • School of Population and Public Health, UBC, Division of Spine, UBC, Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
    • ,
  • Peter J. O'Brien, MD, FRCSC

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Peter J. O'Brien, MD, FRCSC, Department of Orthopaedics University of British Columbia, 110-828 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M8, Canada.

published online 02 March 2010.

Hypothesis

The Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, Hand (DASH), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3), and Short Form (SF)-6D questionnaires are reliable and valid measures of functional outcome and health state values in patients with proximal humeral fractures.

Materials and methods

Patients aged 55 and older treated for a proximal humeral fracture during a 5-year period completed the DASH, EQ-5D, HUI3, and SF-12 questionnaires. Test-retest reliability was quantified using intraclass correlation (ICC 2,1) and Bland-Altman agreement statistics during a second administration of the questionnaires. Correlations between the 4 study instruments, the SF-12, and a subjective global assessment of shoulder function were used to test construct validity. Ceiling/floor effects were quantified for each questionnaire.

Results

Sixty-one individuals (mean age, 69±10 years) participated. ICC showed the reliability (95% confidence interval) was 0.926 (0.860-0.963) for the DASH, 0.783 (0.604-0.875) for the EQ-5D, 0.794 (0.634-0.889) for the SF-6D, and 0.469 (0.184-0.686) for the HUI3. The Bland-Altman limits of agreement, however, highlighted limitations for repeated measurements with all 4 instruments at the individual patient level. Moderate construct validity was confirmed for all instruments. A significant ceiling effect was observed with the EQ-5D: 30% of participants reported “perfect health,” compared with less than 7% with DASH, HUI3, or SF-6D questionnaires.

Discussion

The DASH and SF-6D questionnaires demonstrated the best psychometric properties among the study instruments. These results support their use as appropriate measures of functional outcome and health state values in patients with proximal humeral fractures.

Level of evidence: Level III, Study of Non-consecutive Patients with Limited Follow-Up

Keywords: Functional outcome, health state values, health utilities, proximal humeral fractures, psychometric assessment

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PII: S1058-2746(09)00471-6

doi:10.1016/j.jse.2009.10.021

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Volume 19, Issue 3 , Pages 342-348, April 2010

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