Development and measurement properties of the PEM/PESE activity questionnaire (PAQ)

ORCID

Todd Davenport - 0000-0001-5772-7727

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

ISSN

1051-9815

Volume

74

Issue

4

DOI

10.3233/WOR-220553

First Page

1187

Last Page

1197

Publication Date

4-18-2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Existing instruments often are inappropriate to measure the effects of post-exertional malaise (PEM) and post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) on activities of daily living (ADLs). A validated questionnaire to measure self-reported ability with ADLs would advance research and clinical practice in conditions like myalgic encephalomyelitis and Long Covid. OBJECTIVE: Determine the measurement properties of the PEM/PESE Activity Questionnaire (PAQ). METHODS: The PAQ is adapted from the Patient Specific Functional Scale. Respondents rated three self-selected ADLs on two 0-100 scales, including current performance compared to (1) a ‘good day’ and (2) before illness. Respondents provided a Burden of Functioning rating on a 0-100 scale, anchored at 0 being the activity took “No time, effort, and resources at all” and 10 being “All of my time, effort, and resources.” Respondents took the PAQ twice, completing a demographic questionnaire after the first PAQ and before the second PAQ. Descriptive statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for each scale to assess test-retest reliability. Minimum detectable change outside the 95% confidence interval (MDC95) was calculated. Ceiling and floor effects were determined when the MDC95 for average and function scores crossed 0 and 100, respectively. RESULTS: n = 981 responses were recorded, including n = 675 complete surveys. Test-retest reliability was generally fair to excellent, depending on function and scale. MDC95 values generally indicated scale responsiveness. Ceiling and floor effects were noted infrequently for specific functions. CONCLUSION: The PAQ is valid, reliable, and sensitive. Additional research may explore measurement properties involving functions that were infrequently selected in this sample.

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