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The AsTex®: clinimetric properties of a new tool for evaluating hand sensation following stroke

¹ Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre, Melbourne Physiotherapy School, The University of Melbourne, Australia
² Faculty of Health Sciences, LaTrobe University, Australia
³ Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Melbourne, Australia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: k.miller{at}unimelb.edu.au.

	Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the clinimetric properties and clinical utility of the AsTex®, a new clinical tool for evaluation of hand sensation following stroke.

Design: The AsTex® was administered on two occasions separated by a week to appraise test–retest reliability, and by three assessors on single occasion to establish inter-rater reliability. Pilot normative values were collected in an age-stratified sample. Clinical utility was evaluated based on ease of administration, ceiling and floor effects, and responsiveness to sensory recovery.

Participants: Test–retest (n = 31) and inter-rater (n = 31) reliability and normative values (n = 95) for the AsTex® were established in neurologically normal participants aged 18–85 years. Test–retest reliability was investigated in 22 individuals a mean of 46 months (range 12–125) post stroke and clinical utility was evaluated in an additional 24 subacute stroke participants a mean of 29.4 days (range 12–41) post stroke.

Main measure: The AsTex®.

Results: The AsTex® demonstrated excellent test–retest (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.97–0.99) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.73–0.87) in neurologically normal participants. Test–retest reliability of the AsTex® in individuals following stroke was excellent (ICC = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.68–0.94). The AsTex® was simple to administer, demonstrated small standard error of measurement (0.14 mm), minimal floor and ceiling effects (12.5% and 8.3%) and excellent responsiveness (standardized response mean = 0.57) in subacute stroke participants.

Conclusion: The AsTex® is a reliable, clinically useful and responsive tool for evaluating hand sensation following stroke.

First published on November 6, 2009
Clinical Rehabilitation 2009, doi:10.1177/0269215509342331


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