Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI)

Abstract

Study design: Clinical measurement.

Background: The Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI) is a patient reported outcome (PRO) measure with sound clinimetric properties and clinical viability for determination of upper limb function.

Purpose-methods: The aims of this study were to cross-culturally adapt the ULFI for Turkish-speaking patients (ULFI-Tk) and investigate the reliability and validity in patients with upper limb problems. Patients (n=l02, age 49.1±16.6) with upper limb disorders were consecutively recruited. All participants completed the ULFI-Tk and the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Turkish-version (DASH-Tk) criterion at baseline and day-three.

Results: The ULFI-Tk demonstrated good internal consistency (α=0.87), moderate criterion validity (DASH-Tk:r=0.68;p<0.05), moderate reliability (ICC2:1=0.72,CI=0.58-0.80) and strong error measurement (SEM=2.94;MDC90=5.35). Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a dual factor structure that explained 31.2% of total variance.

Conclusions: The ULFI-Tk is a reliable and valid PRO that could be used to assess upper limb musculoskeletal disorders in Turkish speaking patients

Level of evidence: Class 2.

Keywords: Factor analysis; Reliability; Turkish; Upper limb outcome; Validity.