Statistical Properties of a New Scale - Score for Visual Evaluation of Functional Task of the Hand in Patients after Stroke

Overview

The degree of hand affection after stroke differs in different patients and it is therefore necassary to establish the degree of affection of particular individual by means of functional testing. Various tests have been used for testing of the hand function, but their suitability for patients in the acute phase after stroke is doubtful. We therefore recommend a new Scale for the visual evaluation of functional task of the hand. The aim our study was to verify the validity, reliability and objectiveness of the new suggested Scale and its correlation with standardized Jebsen- Taylor test. Forty patients with hemiparesis after stroke of ischemic etiology were included in the study. There were 27 men and 13 women in the cohort. The mean age of the observed patients was 67 years. The entry examination in these patients was performed up to 48 hours after admission and the final examination was made after 8 to 12 days. The examination evaluated the function of the hand with Jebsen-Taylor test and the new Scale. The cohort was randomized by the time period into two halves, the treated and the control group, respectively. A statistical testing of the Scale proved objectiveness, realibility and validity of the method. A statistically significant correlation between the Jebsen-Taylor test and the Scale was proved at p=0.01.

Key words:
stroke, hand, function, scale, rehabilitation