Arm activity measure (ArmA): psychometric evaluation of the Swedish version

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-021-00310-4 · Published: May 6, 2021

Patient Experience Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

The study focuses on the Arm Activity Measure (ArmA), a self-report questionnaire used to assess arm function in patients with spasticity. The aim was to translate and adapt the ArmA into Swedish (ArmA-S) and to evaluate its reliability and validity in Swedish-speaking patients with upper limb spasticity. The ArmA-S was found to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing improvements in arm function in patients with spasticity, making it suitable for clinical practice and research.

Study Duration

September 2017 and April 2020

Participants

61 patients with disabling spasticity

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
ArmA-S demonstrated good face and content validity, indicating that it is clear, understandable, and relevant to patients and clinicians.
2
The internal consistency of ArmA-S was high, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.94 and 0.93 for sections A and B, respectively, indicating strong reliability.
3
Test-retest reliability was good, with kappa values of 0.86 and 0.83 for sections A and B, respectively, confirming the stability of the measure over time.

Research Summary

The study translated and adapted the Arm Activity Measure (ArmA) into Swedish (ArmA-S) and evaluated its psychometric properties in patients with upper limb spasticity. ArmA-S was found to have good face and content validity, high internal consistency, and good test-retest reliability, demonstrating its suitability for assessing arm function in Swedish-speaking patients. The results suggest that ArmA-S is a reliable and valid tool for monitoring treatment-induced changes in upper limb function in patients with neurological disabilities.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

ArmA-S can be used in clinical settings to assess and monitor the progress of patients with upper limb spasticity undergoing treatment.

Research

Researchers can use ArmA-S to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving upper limb function in patients with neurological conditions.

Cross-cultural Adaptation

The study provides a framework for translating and adapting similar measures into different languages and cultural contexts.

Study Limitations

1
Further investigation with larger sample sizes is needed to clarify the internal structure of the ArmA-S.
2
Cross-cultural validity of ArmA-S was not assessed, limiting comparisons with the original ArmA.
3
An accurate MIC is yet to be established.

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