Validity of the TEMPA for the measurement of upper limb function in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To investigate concurrent and construct validity of the TEMPA (Test d'Evaluation de la performance des Membres Superieurs des Personnes Agees) in patients with upper limb dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis. Subjects: Forty-three patients with upper limb dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis. Design: Patients performed upper limb tests and were assessed on measures of functional independence. Setting: National Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melsbroek, Belgium. Main outcome measures: TEMPA, Jebsen Handfunction Test, Nine Hole Peg Test, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and activities of daily living (ADL) self-questionnaire. Results: The correlation between TEMPA and Jebsen Handfunction and the Nine Hole Peg test respectively is good (0.56-0.87) and high (0.79-0.9). The correlation between TEMPA and the FIM and ADL self-questionnaire was moderate (0.44-0.61) although mostly higher than the correlation between the Jebsen Handfunction and the Nine Hole Peg test respectively and the measures of functionality (0.22-0.55/0.1-0.47). Conclusions: This study provides data supporting the concurrent validity of the TEMPA with the Jebsen Handfunction and the Nine Hole Peg Test in patients with multiple sclerosis. The results suggest construct validity of the TEMPA for the measurement of functionality during activities of daily life in patients with upper limb dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis.