Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): (van Lankveld et al., 1996; n = 109 patients randomly selected from the RA outpatient population; mean age = 54.5 (15) years; mean duration of disease = 13.2 (9.7) years; mean score on SODA = 85.2 (19.1; range = 14-108; Dutch sample)

• SEM (calculated) = 5.73

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): (Massey-Westropp et al., 2004; n = 62; mean age = 65 years, age range = 24-90 years; mean score on SODA Ability Scale = 53 (17; range = 9-72)

• SEM (calculated) = 5.64

RA: (van Lankveld et al., 1996)

• MDC95 (calculated) = 15.88

RA: (Massey-Westropp et al., 2004)

• MDC95 for SODA Ability Scale (calculated) = 15.63

RA: (van Lankveld et al., 1996).

• Mean score on SODA = 85.2 (SD = 19.1; range = 14-108)

RA: (Massy-Westropp et al., 2004)

• Acceptable test-retest reliability: (ICC Overall = 0.89)
• Acceptable test-retest reliability: (ICC for Scales = 0.88-0.89)

RA: (van Lankveld et al., 1996, n = 22; mean age = 60.3 (11.4) years; female/male ratio = 7/3, mean duration of disease = 12.4 (6.4) years; SODA repeated twice within 14 days)

• Excellent test-retest reliability: (Pearson Correlation = 0.93)

RA: (van Lankveld et al., 1996; scores on SODA as measured by three occupational therapists in six patients (mean age = 59.6 (19.6) years; female/male ratio = 4/2; mean duration of disease = 11.4 (9.1) years)

• Excellent interrater reliability (n = 6): Kendall’s coefficient of concordance W = 0.78, p < 0.01) 

RA:

• Excellent: Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91 (van Lankveld et al., 1996, n = 109)
• Excellent for ability: (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91) (Massy-Westropp et al., 2004, n = 62)
• Excellent for physical function: (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.9) (Massy-Westropp et al., 2004, n = 62)
• Excellent for pain: (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.8) (Massy-Westropp et al., 2004, n = 62)

Concurrent Validity: 

RA:

• Excellent concurrent validity between the SODA and SODA-S (shortened version) (correlations at baseline and one-year follow-up were 0.93 and 0.94, respectively) (van Lankveld et al., 1999; n = 109; mean age = 54.54 (15.02) years; mean disease activity score = 4.73 (1.09); mean duration of disease = 13.20 (9.69) years; Dutch sample)
• Adequate concurrent validity between the SODA and the Disease Activity Score (r = -0.34, p < 0.05) (van Lankveld et al., 1999)

Convergent validity:

RA:

• Excellent correlation between SODA scores and scores on the Sollerman Hand Function Test (n = 25) (r = 0.79) (O’Connor et al., 1999; n = 25; mean age = 70 (7.7); age range = 56-84; female = 14; all subjects reporting bilateral upper limb RA, with a mean duration from first symptom of 21 (14.0, range = 1-55) years.
• Excellent correlation between the Australian Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) and SODA physical function scales (r = 0.81) (Massy-Westropp et al., 2004)
• Adequate multiple correlations between measures of hand impairment and SODA scores (van Lankveld et al., 1996, all p < 0.01):
  • Motion of wrist (r = 0.49)
  • Mobility of fingers (r = 0.53)
  • Grip strength for cylinder grip (Jamar) (r = 0.49)
  • Motion and strength (r = 0.71)
• Adequate correlations and partial correlations between pain measures and SODA scores:      

IRGL = Invloed van Reuma op Gezondheid en Leefwijze (a Dutch health status questionnaire)

^aAll values p < 0.01 

• The research occupational therapist saw all participants to measure hand-related disability or dexterity (van Lankveld et al., 1996).
• 23 standardized tasks were included that in a previous study had been judged by patients to be important for everyday functioning (van Lankveld et al., 1996).

• Not statistically measured, but only 10% of the variance in scores on the SODA was related to disease activity. Impairment of hands measured by grip strength explained only half the variance in SODA scores (van Lankveld et al., 1996).
  • This is important because people with similar levels of impairment may have different levels of dexterity, and the SODA measures dexterity, not impairment.

RA: 

• Significant increase in the average SODA score from 70.5 (20.6) before surgery to 88.43 (16.8) post-operatively in patients undergoing hand surgery (t = 3.65, p < 0.01) (van Lankveld et al., 1996; n = 14, mean age = 54.6 (13.5) years, female/male ratio = 10/4; mean duration of disease = 16.4 (5.4) years, patients whose operations were without complications and needed no revisional surgery)
• Significant decrease in scores on 6 of the 12 tasks of the SODA from baseline to one-year follow-up among RA patients (van Lankveld et al., 1999; n = 94)