Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of WHODAS II within the
spinal cord injury population. SUBJECTS: Sixty-three people with traumatic spinal
cord injury. METHODS: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale
II (WHODAS II), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, and Medical
Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36) were administered at
2 years post discharge from rehabilitation. Distribution, reliability,
discriminant validity, and convergent/divergent validity were evaluated using
classical tests. Rasch analyses were applied to assess dimensionality, item
spread, and person/item reliability. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficients
ranged from 0.61 (getting around) to 0.97 (participation). Ceiling effects were
present in 4 out of 6 domains. WHODAS II discriminated between levels of
impairment and work force status on 'self-care', 'getting around', 'life
activities', and total score. Correlations with MOS SF-36 supported
convergent/divergent validity. Five items didn't fit the Rasch model. The
item/person map reveald a shortage of items able to differentiate the more able
person. WHODAS II demonstrated good person and item separation and reliability.
CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary support for reliability and validity
of WHODAS II in a spinal cord injured population. Limitations were noted for
dimensionality and item person distribution. Findings need to be confirmed in
larger samples.

Langue : ANGLAIS