Arthritis Hand Function Test: Development of a Standardized Assessment Tool

Abstract

The Arthritis Hand Function Test (AHFT) is being developed for use with adults who have rheumatoid arthritis. It consists of 11 items designed to measure pure and applied strength and dexterity. The AHFT was administered twice to a sample of 20 subjects with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, to examine inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Subjects were also tested with the Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT) and completed the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS) questionnaire so occupational therapists could examine concurrent validity with these two established instruments. Data analysis resulted in correlation coefficients of .89 to 1.00 for inter-rater and .53 to .95 for test-retest reliability of the AHFT. The AHFT correlated well (r=.63) with the JHFT for the right hand, but poorly (r=.08) for the left hand. The AHFT correlated well (r=.71) with the dexterity scale on the AIMS, but showed little relationship with other AIMS scales. These preliminary data suggest that the AHFT is a promising instrument for evaluating hand function in people who have arthritis.