AUTHOR=Berardi Anna , Galeoto Giovanni , Pasquali Federica , Baione Viola , Crisafulli Sebastiano Giuseppe , Tofani Marco , Tartaglia Matteo , Fabbrini Giovanni , Conte Antonella 

TITLE=Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) in Italian Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.847807

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2022.847807

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Introduction: The Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) is a non-diagnostic assessment scale for hand and upper limb dexterity commonly used in various countries around the world for diseases such as muscular dystrophy, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Parkinson, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the JTHFT in Italian adults with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Materials and Methods: The test’s internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach’s alpha, whereas its concurrent validity was evaluated comparing the JTHFT with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and calculating the Pearson’s correlation coefficient. 
Results: JTHFT was administered to 29 Italians with MS. Cronbach’s alpha showed for non.dominant hand a value of 0.76 and 0.91 for dominant hand. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed significant correlations between JTHFT and HAQ.
Discussion: The JTHFT is a reliable tool to evaluate the functionality of the upper limb and hand in patients with MS. This tool is useful for testing the effectiveness of a treatment in various diseases. The results obtained in this study are coherent with previous studies conducted in populations with different diseases. In particular, the correlation between JTHFT and HAQ showed that a disability-related to the upper limbs can often have repercussions, not only on activities of daily living, but also on walking. Basing this correlation, the motor deficits that emerged may be linked to a brain marrow disease rather than a spinal disease, even if is essential a deepening that can confirm this hypothesis.