Cited 3 times since 2022 (0.9 per year) source: EuropePMC Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Volume 103, Issue 8, 6 1 2022, Pages 1582-1591 Reducing the Number of Test Items of the Action Research Arm Test Poststroke: A Decision Tree Analysis<sup>✰</sup>. Zonjee VJ, Selles RW, Roorda LD, Nijland RH, van der Oest MJW, Bosomworth HJ, van Wijck F, Meskers CGM, van Schaik SM, Van den Berg-Vos RM, Kwakkel G
Objective
The present study aimed to create a shorter version of the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) without compromising its measurement properties.
Design
Secondary analysis of stroke recovery cohorts that used the ARAT to measure upper limb impairment.
Setting
Rehabilitation centers.
Participants
Patients with stroke from 5 different stroke recovery cohorts (N=1425).
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main outcome measures
A decision tree version of the ARAT (ARAT-DT) was developed using chi-square automated interaction detection. In an independent validation subset, criterion validity, agreement of ARAT-DT with original ARAT scores and score categories, and construct validity with the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale score were determined.
Results
In total, 3738 ARAT measurements were available involving 1425 subjects. Chi-square automated interaction detection analysis in the development subset (n=2803) revealed an optimized decision tree with a maximum of 4 consecutive items. In the validation data set (n=935), the ARAT-DT differed by a mean of 0.19 points (0.3% of the total scale) from the original ARAT scores (limits of agreement=-5.67 to 6.05). The ARAT-DT demonstrated excellent criterion validity with the original ARAT scores (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.99 and ρ=0.99) and scoring categories (κw=0.97). The ARAT-DT showed very good construct validity with the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale (ρ=0.92).
Conclusion
A decision tree version of the ARAT was developed, reducing the maximum number of items necessary for ARAT administration from 19 to 4. The scores produced by the decision tree had excellent criterion validity with original ARAT scores.
