Although a variety of pain and physical functioning outcome measures have been reported in the literature , few have demonstrate method ologically strong psychometric properties .
INTRODUCTION A range of outcome measures across various domains are used to evaluate change following an intervention in clinical trials on chronic neuropathic pain ( NeP ) .
However , to capture a real change in the variable of interest , the psychometric properties of a particular measure should demonstrate appropriate method ological quality .
Various outcome measures in the domains of pain and physical functioning have been used in the literature for NeP , for which individual properties ( eg , reliability/validity ) have been reported .
Reliability of clinical outcome measures in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
We assessed inter- and intra-rater reliability of outcome measures in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease ( CMT ) patients . In 40 CMT patients , we assessed reliability of Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale ( ONLS ) , 10-m timed walk ( T10MW ) , 9-hole-peg test ( 9-HPT ) , maximal voluntary isometric contraction ( MVIC ) of arm ( elbow flexion , h and -grip , and three-point pinch ) and leg ( knee extension , foot dorsiflexion/plantar flexion ) . Reliability was substantial for ONLS , excellent for T10MW and 9-HPT . For MVIC , inter and intra-rater reliability was excellent for h and contractions ; for leg contractions , intra-rater agreement was moderate to substantial , whereas inter-rater agreement was poor . An ad hoc device was produced to immobilize the foot and MVIC reliability was re-assessed in 26 CMT patients , result ing in excellent inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for foot dorsiflexion , and clear inter-rater improvement for foot plantar flexion . All outcome measures appear adequate for CMT assessment . Use of an immobilization device improves foot MVIC reliability , preventing biased findings in patients with greater strength
Although a variety of pain and physical functioning outcome measures have been reported in the literature , few have demonstrate method ologically strong psychometric properties .
INTRODUCTION A range of outcome measures across various domains are used to evaluate change following an intervention in clinical trials on chronic neuropathic pain ( NeP ) .
However , to capture a real change in the variable of interest , the psychometric properties of a particular measure should demonstrate appropriate method ological quality .
Various outcome measures in the domains of pain and physical functioning have been used in the literature for NeP , for which individual properties ( eg , reliability/validity ) have been reported .