Validation of the NIH activity record: a quantitative measure of life activities

Abstract

This article reports the results of the validation of a life activity record. We devised a self-administered daily log (the NIH Activity Record, ACTRE), for persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which recorded specific daily activities over a 24-hour period and identified the level of physical effort for each task. In addition, each activity was assigned a level of pain, fatigue, difficulty, competence, meaningfulness and enjoyment. Twenty-one persons with RA completed the log. They underwent an articular examination (AI) (Ritchie Articular Index) as well as completed the following self-reports: Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS); The Feeling Tone Checklist (FTC), a measure of fatigue; The Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (ALI); and the Pain and Disability Index (PDI). Significant correlations were found between fatigue measured by ACTRE and FTC (p = 0.028); pain measured by ACTRE, PDI (p = 0.002), and (p = 0.01) and the visual analog scale in the ALI (p = 0.0002). Pain experienced while performing self-care measured by ACTRE correlated with AI (p = 0.001) and ALI (p = 0.0013). Difficulty with self-care activities on the ACTRE correlated with difficulty (p = 0.007) and pain (p = 0.012) on the ALI. The ACTRE is a valid measure of symptoms and perceptions that can be quantified, and is unique in that it identifies specific daily activities likely to produce them.