Brief activity performance measure for upper limb amputees: BAM-ULA.

Abstract

Measures of activity performance for adults with upper limb amputation are needed. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the measurement properties of a new measure of activity performance for adults with upper limb amputation, which we call the Brief Activity Measure for Upper Limb Amputees (BAM-ULA) and to compare BAM-ULA scores for users of different types of prostheses. In all, 35 persons with upper limb amputation were administered the BAM-ULA, twice within 1 week. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Construct validity was examined by comparing scores by amputation level. Concurrent validity was evaluated by examining correlations with other measures. Exploratory analyses using linear regression compared sub-group scores for users of myoelectric and body-powered devices, and for users of single-degree-of-freedom and multi-articulating devices, controlling for amputation level. The scale alpha was 0.83; intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91. Item scores differed by amputation level and device type. Persons with transradial amputation completed more items than those with amputations at the transhumeral or shoulder level ( p < 0.05). Users of myoelectric devices completed more items than users of body-powered devices ( p < 0.05). The BAM-ULA strongly correlated with the Activities Measure for Upper Limb Amputees; R = 0.86) and three modified Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Tests ( R = 0.62-0.68) and moderately correlated with one Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test ( R = 0.46) as well as with the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. No differences in scores were found by degree of freedom of the terminal device after controlling for amputation level. Analyses support reliability, construct validity, and concurrent validity of the Brief Activity Measure for Upper Limb Amputees. This new briefer measure is easier to score than the Activities Measure for Upper Limb Amputees. Clinical relevance This article reported on the development and evaluation of a brief 10-item measure of activity performance for persons with upper limb impairment, the BAM-ULA. The BAM-ULA takes 10 min to administer and has a simple scoring method, which may facilitate its adoption by clinicians in the field.