Validations of the Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke

Completed

• Conditions: Stroke
• Interventions: Diagnostic Test: the Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke (CAT-FAS)

• Registration Number: NCT05524818
• Lead Sponsor: Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital

Brief Summary

Purposes: The aim of this study is to preliminarily validate the test-retest reliability, random measurement error, practice effect, and responsiveness of the the Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke (CAT-FAS) in real clinical settings.

Methods: Patients in both chronic (get stroke over 6 months) and sub-acute (get stroke less than 6 months) stages will be recruited. These patients will be classified into "test-retest reliability group" and "responsiveness group" to examine the test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the CAT-FAS, respectively. All participants will receive the administrations of CAT-FAS twice. For those in the test-retest reliability group, the administrations will be performed with a 4-week interval. For those in the responsiveness group, the administrations will be performed at admitting to the rehabilitation unit and before they are discharged.

Detailed Description

Participants Persons with stroke were recruited from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at a medical center in Taiwan using consecutive sampling. The study was approved by the local institutional review board, and all of the participants provided informed consent. Because the targeted populations for examining the test-retest reliability and responsiveness were different, the inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed separately below.

Test-retest reliability Outpatients with chronic stroke were recruited to examine the test-retest reliability. The participants met the following criteria: (1) diagnosis of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction, (2) age ≥ 20 years, (3) stroke onset ≥ 6 months (first and recurrent stroke included), and (4) ability to follow 3-step verbal instructions.

Responsiveness Inpatients undergoing rehabilitation with subacute stroke were recruited to examine the responsiveness. The participants met the following criteria: (1) diagnosis of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction, (2) age ≥ 20 years, (3) stroke onset \< 3 months (first and recurrent stroke included), and (4) ability to follow 3-step verbal instructions.

Procedures Test-retest design was adopted. The data were collected by an experienced and well-trained occupational therapist, and included demographic characteristics, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the the Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke (CAT-FAS). The demographic and clinical characteristics were gathered from medical records. The NIHSS and the CAT-FAS were administered by the therapist twice, at different intervals depending on the groups. For the participants in the test-retest reliability group, the two assessments were performed at an one-month interval. For participants in the responsiveness group, the two assessments were administered at study commencement and hospital discharge.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-04-14
• Primary Completion: 2022-02-21
• Study Completion: 2022-02-21
• Status Verified: 2022-08
• Study First Submitted: 2022-08-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-08-30
• Study First Posted: 2022-09-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-09-03
• Last Update Posted: 2022-09-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 76

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Test-retest reliability group	the Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke (CAT-FAS)	All the participants received conventional rehabilitation (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech therapy) or other interventions (e.g., acupuncture) as usual during the research period.
Responsiveness group	the Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke (CAT-FAS)	All the participants received conventional rehabilitation (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech therapy) or other interventions (e.g., acupuncture) as usual during the research period.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke (CAT-FAS)	4 weeks.	The Computerized Adaptive Testing System of the Functional Assessment of Stroke (CAT-FAS) comprises 58 items. The items were selected from four well-known physical function measures for patients with stroke: 26 items from the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Limb, 11 items from the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Limb, 12 items from the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients, and 9 items from the Barthel Index. Results are automatically reported as Rasch scores (i.e., the minimum and maximum values are negative and positive infinity, respectively). A higher score indicates greater physical functions.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation; 🇨🇳 Hualien city, Hualien County, Taiwan