Test-retest reliability of the Shape/Texture Identification testTM in people with chronic stroke

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Shape/Texture Identification test (STI-testTM) in persons with chronic stroke. Design: A test-retest design. Setting: University hospital outpatient setting. Participants: Forty-five persons (mean age 65 years) with mild to moderate impairments in the arm and hand > 6 months post stroke. Interventions: Not applicable. Main measure: The STI-testTM was used to assess active touch of the hand. It consists of two subtests: identification of shapes and identification of textures, each in three different sizes. Both hands were assessed twice, one week apart. The reliability of the data was evaluated with weighted Kappa statistics and the Svensson rank-invariant method (percentage agreement, systematic and random disagreements). Results: The median total score of the STI-testTM was 5 points (min-max 0-6 points) for the more affected hand and 6 points (min-max 3-6 points) for the less affected hand at both test occasions. The weighted Kappa coefficient was 0.94 for the more affected hand and 0.55 for the less affected hand. The percentage agreement for the more affected hand was 69% for the subtest shapes and 82% for the subtest textures, and for the less affected hand 62% and 91%, respectively. There were no systematic or random disagreements for any of the subtests. Conclusion: The STI-testTM is reliable to assess active touch of the hand after stroke.