The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the upper extremity functional index / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To adapt the upper extremity functional index (UEFI) to Chinese and assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version.Methods The index items were translated into Chinese,back translated into English,and revised by experts in rehabilitation.Twenty-five patients with upper extremity trauma were then recruited to complete two UEFI questionnaires on two occasions 1 week apart as a field test.They also completed a disability of arm,shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire on the first occasion.Results Some adjustments were made to the translations based on cultural and linguistic practices.Cronbach's alpha for the final version was 0.93 and the total inter-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.97.The ICCs of the individual items ranged from 0.56 to 0.94.The Pearson correlation coefficient between the UEFI and DASH questionnaires was-0.86.Conclusions The Chinese version of the UEFI scale is reliable and valid.It can be used for study and in the clinical evaluation of upper extremity function.