Article

PURPOSE: To determine the retest reliability and construct validity of the
self-report and proxy versions of the wheelchair outcome measure (WhOM) among
residents in long-term care. METHOD: The WhOM was administered to 55 wheelchair
users living in residential care (38 self-respondents and 17 proxy respondents).
Retest data were collected to estimate reliability using intraclass correlation
coefficients (ICCs) for each of the tool scores (Importance, Satisfaction and
Importance x Satisfaction).
For construct validity testing, Spearman's
correlation coefficients were used to assess whether WhOM scores were correlated
with scores from the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLDI) and
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). RESULTS: The ICCs for the WhOM scores were
between 0.68 and 0.84. Moderate correlations were found between the
self-respondents and proxy respondents groups with Importance x Satisfaction and
LLDI (r = 0.46-0.50). No other significant correlations were found. CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides evidence for the reliability and validity of the WhOM for
adults in residential care, but further testing is warranted to ensure it can
facilitate prescription of the right device at the right time for residents in
these settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Clients who reside in long-term
care (LTC) institutions represent a population who have unique needs because of
the varied types of activities in which they participate. This study provides
support for use of the WhOM on an individual basis among self-responding
residents. The study provides some support and use of the WhOM with groups of
residents who require proxy respondents. Additional studies with a larger sample
size are needed to further explore the psychometrics of the measure.

Langue : ANGLAIS