Self-Reported Hand Functional Ability measured by the DASH in Individuals with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Self-report accounts of functional ability are important for clinicians to gain insight into individuals’ perspectives of the personal impact of injury or disease. This short report describes a study of self-report upper limb ability using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire in a sample of people with early rheumatoid arthritis. The DASH is a reliable and valid tool for use within rheumatology. The most difficult upper limb tasks to complete were reported to be activities that required sustained force and power, followed by tasks that required fine finger movements and prehension tasks. The DASH questionnaire proved to be an outcome measure that discriminated well between different levels of reported functional upper limb ability; it was reported to be easy to complete by patients, and was straightforward and quick to score. The compact summary score makes it a useful clinical and research tool and one that can be recommended in an early rheumatoid arthritis population.