The THAQ is a measure of arm and hand function in individuals with tetraplegia (Land et al. 2004). It consists of 9 subclasses: self-care, dressing, continence, mobility, eating and drinking, work/admin/telecom, leisure, household, and miscellaneous.

Number of items: 153

Procedure/Administration: Information is collected using an interview format.

How scored: Items are scored based on 3 dimensions: 1) Performance or Doing (0= without difficulty to 3=help from others); 2) Use of an aid (0=never and 3=always); 3) Importance of performing activity independently (0=not important to 2 very important).

Interpretability: There is no information regarding interpretability of the scores (e.g. norms).

Acceptability: It is specific to the tetraplegic population. The items were identified by client population.

Languages: N/a

Usability: The test may not be useful when the individual is an in-patient as exposure to out of facility activities (i.e. community living, work, leisure) is required.

Time to administer: 30-45 minutes

Time to score: N/a

Training required: N/a

Availability: N/a

Equipment required: N/a

Summary: The THAQ is a SCI specific questionnaire used to assess performance, use of an aid and importance in completing actual activities. It has relevant application for individuals with tetraplegia who have completed in-patient rehabilitation. The test may not be useful when the individual is an in-patient as exposure to out of facility activities related to community living, work, leisure, which are not typically addressed in early phases of in patient rehabilitation.The THAQ could potentially be used as a method of goal identification for intervention and/or as a test to measure change after intervention. However, while the THAQ is promising considerable additional development and psychometric assessment is required before recommendations can be made to use the scale clinically.

Psychometric Summary:

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

References

• Land NE, Odding E, Duivenvoorden HJ, Bergen MP, Stam HJ. Tetraplegia Hand Activity Questionnaire (THAQ): the development, assessment of arm-hand function-related activities in tetraplegic patients with a spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2004;42:294-301.