Administering Standardized Questionnaires (week 11)

Role of the PTA

may screen, provide PT service, prepare, treat, equip, modify

may not, specify, evaluate, assess

Role of the PTA in Administering Standardized Questionnaires

Provide patient with questionnaire

Clarify patient questions

Calculate results (if agreed upon by PT)

Do not interpret results

Communication Barriers

Language

Reading level

• 14% of the US Population (32 million Americans) can’t read

• 21% of adults in the U.S. read below a 5th grade level

Vision

Computer Illiteracy

Cultural Barriers

Some questionnaires ask questions about bathing, grooming and sex life

that would not be considered acceptable by members of some cultures

Honesty

Fear of termination of services

• Anger against employer

Seeking benefits inappropriately (disability, worker’s compensation, sympathy from friends/family/ community

Procedure

1. Selection of Standardized Questionnaire(PT)

2. Explain Rationale to Patient

3. Explain Procedure to Patient

4. Answer Questions about Purpose/Procedure

5. Obtain Informed Consent

6. Administer Standardized Questionnaire

7. Ensure Patient is Able to Complete Questionnaire

8. Provide Clarifying Information According to Instructions

9. Ensure Patient Completed Questionnaire

10. Provided Completed Questionnaire to Supervising PT

How Are They Developed?

Developed by clinicians and researchers

Purpose is typically to determine level of disability or determine effectiveness of treatment

Reliability and validity should be evaluated prior to utilization

Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)

Every question should be answered based on his/her condition for the last week.

If the activity hasn’t been performed in the last week, the patient should give their best estimate

The activities can be performed with either upper extremity

30 Questions with an optional work and sports sections

Quick DASH

Every question should be answered based on his/her condition for the last week.

If the activity hasn’t been performed in the last week, the patient should give their best estimate

The activities can be performed with either upper extremity

11 Questions with an optional work and sports sections

Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire

Description states it is used to determine permanent limitations in functional ability

• Often used for patients whose limitations are not considered to be permanent

Considered the ‘gold standard’ of low back functional outcome tools.

10 questions regarding various parts of life

Knee Outcome Survey

14 questions used to determine how their knee symptoms are affecting their ability to perform activities of daily living.

Considered to have high test-retest reliability

Additional questions regarding sports performance.

Foot Function Index

“Developed to measure the impact of foot pathology on function in terms of pain, disability and activity restriction”

23 Items divided into 3 sub-scales

Patient answers questions based on their pain over the previous week

Test-retest reliability was studied and found to be good.

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)

Used for patient with osteoarthritis in the hip and/or knee

24 questions divided into 3 subsections

Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ)

Developed to determine fear-avoidance beliefs among patients with low back pain in the clinical setting

A low score is linked to higher success rates with specific treatments

Demonstrated to be valid and reliable in patients with chronic low back pain.

McGill Pain Questionnaire

Short form is most commonly used

Emphasizes both the quality and the intensity of the pain

Allows for indication of depth of pain (internal vs. external)

Can be used for pain anywhere in the body