Psychometric properties of the shortened disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) and Numeric Pain Rating Scale in patients with shoulder pain

PURPOSE: To examine the psychometric properties of the Shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) in patients with shoulder pain.

METHODS: Single-group repeated measures design in which 101 patients presenting to physical therapy completed the QuickDASH and the NPRS at the baseline examination and at a follow-up visit. At the follow-up all patients also completed the Global Rating of Change (GRC), which was used to dichotomize patients as improved or stable. Baseline and follow-up scores were used to determine the test-retest reliability, construct validity and minimal levels of detectable and clinically important change for both the QuickDASH and NPRS.

RESULTS: Test-retest reliability was 0.90 for the QuickDASH and 0.74 for the NPRS. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was 8.0 points for the QuickDASH and 1.1 for the NPRS.

CONCLUSION: The NPRS and QuickDASH exhibit good test-retest reliability and responsiveness in patients with shoulder pain.