The Development of a Standardised Assessment of Hand Function

Abstract

A new assessment of hand function, the O'Neill Hand Function Assessment, has recently been developed on an Irish adult population. The assessment is based on a commonly used grip classification of the hand and it also contains a non-prehensive section. There are eight tasks In the final version of the assessment. The instructions allow for a description of both the manner of performance (criterion-referenced section) and the speed of performance (norm-referenced section) of the tasks in the assessment. Reliability studies have been performed on the tasks in the assessment, with high inter-rater reliability (0.96–0.99) and moderate test re-test reliability (0.54–0.79). There is also a description of the validity of the assessment and the total score in the assessment appears to correlate highly with the Nine Hole Peg Test (0.98). The normative data for the speed section are based on 140 non-disabled adults. The assessment has also been applied to 38 orthopaedic and rheumatology patients. The O'Neill Hand Function Assessment appears to fulfil the basic criteria for a standardised assessment.