Reliability and validity of the Thai version of the prosthesis evaluation questionnaire

Abstract

The aim of this research was to develop the PEQ - Thai version, which was acceptable validity and reliability for Thai lower limb amputees who fitted with the prosthesis in both the clinical and research fields. This study was a cross-sectional study. The sample was eighty-three lower limb amputees. The instruments used were the Thai version of the PEQ and the SF-36 version 2 (a generic Quality of Life outcome measure). Data were collected using the PEQ and SF-36 at baseline (n=83) and after two weeks (n=71). Reliability data were analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC). Concurrent validity data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Major research findings indicated mean scores of the 10 scales varied from 69 to 80. Overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.77 to 0.86, indicating good internal consistency in all subscales. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) ranged from 0.55 to 0.76 for all 9 PEQ scales, indicating acceptable correlation. The result of the study presented low correlation coefficients between the PEQ and the SF-36. The ambulation subscale correlated with the physical function subscales of SF-36 (r=0.43). Furthermore, the PEQ's social burden subscale score correlated with the SF-36's role emotional subscales (r=0.40). The results lead to conclude that the Thai version of Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire is a valid and reliable for evaluating quality of life of lower limb amputees in both clinical and research.