Assessment of the structural validity of three foot and ankle specific patient-reported outcome measures

Ville T Ponkilainen; Erkki J Tukiainen; Mikko M Uimonen; Arja H Häkkinen; Jussi P Repo

doi:10.1016/j.fas.2019.01.009

Assessment of the structural validity of three foot and ankle specific patient-reported outcome measures

Foot Ankle Surg. 2020 Feb;26(2):169-174. doi: 10.1016/j.fas.2019.01.009. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Authors

Ville T Ponkilainen¹, Erkki J Tukiainen², Mikko M Uimonen³, Arja H Häkkinen⁴, Jussi P Repo³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland. Electronic address: ponkilainen.ville.t@student.uta.fi.
² Department of Plastic Surgery, Central Hospital of Helsinki University, HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
³ Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland.
⁴ Health Sciences, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland; Department of Physical Medicine, Central Finland Health Care District, Jyväskylä, Finland.

PMID: 30797700
DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2019.01.009

Abstract

Background: The structural validity of the Lower extremity functional scale (LEFS), the Visual analogue scale foot and ankle (VAS-FA), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) has not been compared earlier in patients after foot and ankle surgery.

Methods: Altogether 165 previously operated patients completed the foot and ankle specific instruments, the 15D health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument, and general health (VAS).

Results: The LEFS, the VAS-FA and the WOMAC had slight differences in their measurement properties. The VAS-FA had the best targeting and coverage. All three foot and ankle measures accounted for mobility and usual activities when compared to the different aspects of generic HRQoL.

Conclusions: The LEFS, the VAS-FA and the WOMAC have relatively similar psychometric properties among foot and ankle patients, yet the VAS-FA provides the best targeting and coverage.

Keywords: LEFS; Measures; Outcome; PROM; VAS-FA; Validity; WOMAC.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Ankle / surgery*
Female
Foot / surgery*
Foot Joints / surgery*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Reported Outcome Measures*
Psychometrics
Quality of Life
Reproducibility of Results
Visual Analog Scale