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Ann Rheum Dis 1998;57:82-87 doi:10.1136/ard.57.2.82
  • Extended reports

The responsiveness of the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire

  1. Daniëlle A W M van der Windta,
  2. Geert J M G van der Heijdenb,c,
  3. Andrea F de Wintera,
  4. Bart W Koesa,
  5. Walter Devilléa,d,
  6. Lex M Boutera,d
  1. aInstitute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands , bDepartment of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands , cInstitute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, the Netherlands , dDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  1. Mrs D A W M van der Windt, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Accepted 18 June 1997

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the responsiveness of the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ).

Methods—The study was conducted within the framework of an observational study on shoulder disorders in primary care. After first presentation of their complaints to the general practitioner and after one and six months, participants completed the SDQ, a single question on functional status (FSQ), and an ordinal 11 point scale for the severity of pain (PSS). Responsiveness of the SDQ was evaluated compared with that of the FSQ and PSS, by calculating responsiveness ratios and by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Recovery according to the patient was used as an external criterion for clinically relevant improvement (complete recovery or much improved on a six point Likert scale was denoted as clinically relevant improvement).

Results—A total of 349 consecutive patients with shoulder disorders were enrolled in the observational study. Response rates ranged between 96% and 89%. Responsiveness ratios were slightly higher for the PSS compared with the SDQ (2.53 versus 2.22 at one month, 2.24 versus 1.89 at six months). The area under the ROC curve was 0.84 for both the SDQ and the PSS, and 0.72 for the FSQ.

Conclusion—The results of this study confirm the responsiveness of the SDQ, making it a useful instrument to assess functional disability in longitudinal studies.

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