Development of the modified simple test for evaluating hand function (modified STEF): Construct, reliability, validity, and responsiveness

Keisuke Irie; Hirokatsu Iseki; Satomi Okamoto; Kazuhiro Okamoto; Seiji Nishimura; Kenji Kagechika

doi:10.1016/j.jht.2017.09.007

Development of the modified simple test for evaluating hand function (modified STEF): Construct, reliability, validity, and responsiveness

J Hand Ther. 2019 Jul-Sep;32(3):388-394. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2017.09.007. Epub 2017 Nov 1.

Authors

Keisuke Irie¹, Hirokatsu Iseki², Satomi Okamoto³, Kazuhiro Okamoto³, Seiji Nishimura⁴, Kenji Kagechika⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan; Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan. Electronic address: keisuke@kanazawa-med.ac.jp.
² Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan; Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan.
⁴ School of Health Sciences, College of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan.
⁵ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan.

PMID: 29100805
DOI: 10.1016/j.jht.2017.09.007

Abstract

Study design: Clinimetric evaluation study.

Introduction: Despite the availability of numerous performance tests to measure finger dexterity, there is no international consensus on hand function evaluation.

Purpose of the study: To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the modified version of the simple test for evaluating hand function (STEF), which is widely used in Japan.

Methods: The intrarater (n = 40) and inter-rater (n = 32) reliability of the modified STEF was evaluated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), models (1,1) and (2,1), respectively, in healthy individuals. The criterion validity of the modified STEF (n = 50) was evaluated by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient relative to the STEF, the Purdue pegboard test (PPT), and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The standardized response mean of the scores was calculated to determine responsiveness (n = 35). The modified STEF was used prospectively to measure the change in hand function in a cohort of patients with hand trauma injuries and inflammatory diseases (n = 30), as well as in a cohort of patients with cervical spondylosis (n = 20), from preoperative baseline to 1 and 3 months postoperatively.

Results: ICC_1.1 and ICC_2.1 values were ≥0.80, indicative of high intrarater and inter-rater reliability. All correlation coefficients were significant (P < .05): STEF (r = 0.89), PPT (r = 0.69), and DASH (r = -0.34). The standardized response mean indicated greater responsiveness of the modified STEF (0.89) than the STEF (0.71) and PPT (0.68) but a lower responsiveness than the DASH (1.11).

Discussion: It must be mentioned that modified STEF and DASH cannot be compared without caution. The two types of tools should complement each other when measuring someone's activity and participation level.

Conclusions: The modified STEF is a reliable measurement tool, with a moderate positive correlation with the PPT and a greater responsiveness than the STEF and PPT.

Keywords: Modified simple test for evaluating hand function; Reliability; Responsiveness; Validity.

Publication types

Validation Study

MeSH terms

Aged
Disability Evaluation*
Female
Hand / physiopathology*
Hand Injuries / physiopathology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Skills / physiology*
Reproducibility of Results
Spondylosis / physiopathology