The objective of this research is to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a Short Form of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) with satisfactory psychometric properties. This report describes the results from analyses of data from adult rehabilitation patients who participated in two recently completed, longitudinal investigations of assistive device users in Canada and the US. The authors reduced the number of scale items from 26 to 10. The scoring system was simplified. The psychometric properties of the new scale (PIADS-10) were compared with those of the original PIADS. The PIADS-10 demonstrated good reliability, validity, and responsiveness. The results provide strong evidence that a 10-item PIADS can have sound psychometric properties for use with rehabilitation patients. It would be simpler and faster to administer and would therefore be useful for researchers and service providers.
assistive technology, mobility device, outcomes, PIADS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support for this work by the Canadian Stroke Network and Grant H133A060062 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Jeffrey W. Jutai, PhD, CPsych
Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre
The Lawson Health Research Institute
Parkwood Hospital, Room B-3002a
801 Commissioners Road East
London, ON, Canada N6C 5J1
Phone: (519) 685-4292 x42626
Email: jjutai@uwo.ca
Disney produced a television show in the mid 1990s called Gargoyles. It's a great show and I'm a big fan. A few years ago Disney started to release the show on DVD. The last release was of season 2, volume 1. That was two years ago. Volume 2 has not been released. Why? Poor sales. So if you should find yourself wanting to support my work, instead I ask you pick up a copy of season 2, volume 1. It's a great show and you might find yourself enjoying it.