A post-discharge functional outcome measure for lower limb amputees: test-retest reliability with trans-tibial amputees.

There are approximately 700 lower limb amputations performed throughout Scotland each year. A national system of survey and analysis conducted by the Scottish Physiotherapy Amputee Research Group (SPARG) provides information on these patients up until discharge from hospital. However, there has been no method of collecting long-term functional and prosthetic use information following discharge. The Functional Measure for Amputees (FMA) has, therefore, been developed from the Prosthetic Profile of the Amputee (PPA) questionnaire, designed by Gauthier-Gagnon and colleagues in Canada (Grisé et al, 1993). Modifications to the PPA were carried out to make it more appropriate for the Scottish amputee population; these changes were approved by the original authors. The test-retest reliability of the 14-question FMA was assessed using a repeat postal questionnaire study. One hundred and thirty-three (133) from a possible 390 trans-tibial amputees were returned. Comparing sociodemographic and clinical variables between consenters and non-consenters showed no evidence to support sample bias. Continuous data items on the FMA analysed using an intraclass correlation coefficient showed ICC values of 0.74, 0.85, 0.96 and 0.64. Categorical data items analysed using percentage agreements showed reliability of over 70% for seven items, between 40% and 70% for three items and between 20% and 40% for the remaining three items. The FMA questionnaire was found to be reliable on the majority of its questions and moderately reliable on the remaining questions during successive follow-up postal administrations.