Test-retest reliability of physiotherapists using the action research arm test in chronic stroke

Nomikos, PA; Spence, NJ; Alshehri, MA

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether physiotherapists (PT) scores are consistent over time when using Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) to assess upper limb (UL) function on a videotaped chronic stroke patient.

Subjects and Methods: Quantitative correlational study. A convenience-snowball sample of 20 international PT (mean age and experience = 32 ± 6.8 and 7.55 ± 7.4 years) used ARAT to score chronic stroke patient’s UL function, observing a video at baseline and again ≈ 2 weeks later. Two sets of non-parametric ordinal data were assessed with Spearman’s (rho) and the alpha (a) value was set at 0.01. Line of equality, Bland-Altman plots and Wilcoxon signed rank test were also considered.

Results: Spearman’s rho was found ≈ 0.78 at a significance level of 0.00. ARAT was scored with a mean difference of 16.6 days and a mean change of 0.6 points was observed. Limits of agreement and coefficient of reproducibility were ±2.3 and ±2.6 respectively. The patient’s arm impairment was categorised as moderate and floor or ceiling effects were not detected.

Conclusion: The results suggest that ARAT is consistent, valid and should be used by PT in chronic stroke.

Citation

Nomikos, P., Spence, N., & Alshehri, M. (2018). Test-retest reliability of physiotherapists using the action research arm test in chronic stroke. Journal of physical therapy science, 30(10), 1271-1277. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.30.1271

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 24, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Oct 12, 2018
• Publication Date: Oct 12, 2018
• Deposit Date: Sep 11, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 19, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Physical Therapy Science
• Print ISSN: 0915-5287
• Electronic ISSN: 2187-5626
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1271-1277
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.30.1271
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.30.1271
• Related Public URLs: https://spts.jpn.com/en/index.html; https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/jpts