Reliability, Construct Validity and Responsiveness of Hand Function Tests for Individuals with Hand Osteoarthritis

• Grant number: 25/02186-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Paula Regina Mendes da Silva Serrão
• Grantee: Décio Bueno Neto
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Hand Osteoarthritis (HOA) is one of the main musculoskeletal conditions affecting the hand and upper limb of adult individuals. HOA presents symptoms such as pain in the hand and wrist, reduction of palmar and pinch grip strength, morning stiffness or after periods of rest, edema in the affected joints. These symptoms contribute to the limitation of functional activities and restriction in the social participation of affected individuals. The functional assessment of these patients can be performed through self-report questionnaires and functional tests, however, the latter present limitations in the quality of scientific evidence for their recommendation and use for patients with HOA. Among the functional tests, the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) and the 9-hole peg test (9HPT) are widely used tests in clinical and observational studies, but their reliability and validity have not yet been investigated for people with CTS, as well as their responsiveness to physiotherapeutic treatment.Objectives: To analyze the measurement properties, construct validity and responsiveness of functional assessment instruments in individuals with HOA.Methods: This will be a cross-sectional and longitudinal, test-retest study, which will be submitted to the Research Ethics Committee with Human Beings of the Federal University of São Carlos. A minimum sample of 65 volunteers will participate in the research. Individuals with HOA diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, of both sexes, aged over 40 years, will be eligible. Two evaluation stages (E1 and E2) will be carried out with a difference of 3 months between them. During this period, participants will receive physiotherapeutic treatment. In E1, the procedures for investigating the reliability and construct validity by hypothesis testing will be carried out. In turn, in E2, the procedures for investigating responsiveness, also by hypothesis testing, will be carried out. Participants will be assessed by functional questionnaires related to patients with upper limb dysfunctions and by the JTHFT and 9HPT functional tests. To investigate the analysis of reproducibility, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) will be used. For the assessment of validity and responsiveness, linear correlation analyzes will be used.Expected Results: It is expected that the JTHFT and 9HPT tests will be easy to perform, considered valid and responsive, comprising between 75% and 80% of the hypotheses predicted for validity and responsiveness. Furthermore, it is expected that the JTHFT and 9HPT will present ICC values considered between good and excellent (<0.75 to> 0.9). (AU)