Validity and reliability of "Shriners Hospital for Children Upper Extremity Evaluation" in children with rheumatic diseases

Introduction/objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of "Shriners Hospital for Children Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE)" for children with rheumatic diseases. Methods The study was carried out after obtaining the necessary permissions and retrospectively registered. The psychometric properties evaluated were reliability and concurrent validity. Reliability was determined by intra- and inter-observer agreement. Concurrent validity was performed using the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), Abilhand-Rheumatoid Arthritis (Abilhand-RA), and Children Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ). The validity and reliability of the evaluation were determined after the retest 1 week later. Results Twenty children with rheumatic diseases were participated in to study. Intraclass coefficients ranged from 0.82 to 0.97 and the intraobserver reliability for SHUEE total and subscales were considered "excellent." Interobserver reliability was considered "excellent" for the SHUUE total score, spontaneous functional analysis and dynamic positional analysis, and "moderate" for grasp-release. A moderate negative correlation was determined between Spontaneous Functional Analysis and JTHFT (r = - 0.63; p = 0.003). Conclusion SHUEE is a valid and reliable evaluation for children with rheumatic diseases.