Psychometric properties of Upper-body Dressing Scale in people with stroke

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the psychometric properties of the Upper-Body Dressing Scale (UBDS), a tool for evaluating upper-body dressing performance in stroke patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Seventy-six chronic stroke patients and 49 healthy older adults. Methods: UBDS, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUGT), Limit of Stability (LOS) test, Motor Activity Log (MAL-30), Arm Activity Measure (AAM), 12-item Short Form Health Survey, and Community Integration Measure – Cantonese version were assessed. Results: UBDS time and UBDS score demonstrated good to excellent inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities for chronic stroke patients (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.759–1.000). UBDS time correlated significantly with FMA Upper and Lower Extremity, WMFT, and BBS scores, TUGT time, LOS Movement Velocity (affected side), LOS Maximal Excursion (composite), MAL-30 Amount of Use and Quality of Movement (affected side), and AAM (section B) scores (r = –0.61 to 0.63). The minimal detectable changes in UBDS time and UBDS score were 28.67 s and 0, respectively. The cut-off UBDS time and UBDS score were 37.67 s and 7.50, respectively. Conclusion: UBDS time is a reliable, sensitive, and specific measurement for assessing upper-body dressing performance in chronic stroke patients.