Responsiveness of the Arabic Upper Extremity Functional Index in Patients with Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders

The aim of this study was to examine the ability of the Arabic Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) to detect change over time in upper extremity function (responsiveness) in patients with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Patients receiving physical therapy care for their upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders completed the Arabic UEFI; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH); Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS); Global Assessment of Function (GAF); and the Global Rating of Change Scale (GRC) at the initial visit and later at a follow-up assessment. Responsiveness was examined by testing predefined hypotheses regarding the correlations between the change scores in the Arabic UEFI and the other measures. The Arabic UEFI change scores demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the change in the DASH (r = 0.94), GAF (r = 0.65), NPRS (r = 0.63), and GRC (r = 0.73), which was in line with the predefined hypotheses. The Arabic UEFI change scores demonstrated a pattern of correlation with changes in other outcome measures that are consistent with the argument that the Arabic UEFI change scores represent a change in upper extremity function. The responsiveness of the Arabic UEFI was supported, and its use to monitor changes in upper extremity function in patients with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders was supported.