Reliability and validity of Simplified Chinese version of Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire: cross-cultural adaptation and validation

Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) Questionnaire into a Simplified Chinese version (QuickDASH-C), and evaluate the reliability and validity of the QuickDASH-C in patients with upper limb disorders.

Methods: Cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to the internationally recognized guidelines of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Outcome Committee. A total of 150 participants were recruited in this study. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine test-retest reliability. Construct validity was analyzed by evaluating the correlations between QuickDASH-C and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS) as well as the short form (36) health survey (SF-36).

Results: The original version of the QuickDASH was well cross-culturally adapted and translated into Simplified Chinese. QuickDASH-C was indicated to have excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.818, ICC = 0.907). QuickDASH-C correlated almost perfectly to DASH (r = 0.820, p < 0.001). Moderate to substantial correlations between QuickDASH-C and VAS (r = 0.463, p < 0.001), as well as physical function (r = - 0.630, p < 0.001), role physical (r = - 0.471, p < 0.001), bodily pain (r = - 0.563, p < 0.001) and general health (r = - 0.414, p < 0.001) subscales of SF-36, were observed.

Conclusion: QuickDASH-C was demonstrated to have excellent acceptability, reliability, and validity in patients with upper limb disorders, which could be recommended for patients in mainland China.

Key points: • This study translated and cross-culturally adapted Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire into a Simplified Chinese version. • The reliability and validity of Simplified Chinese version of QuickDASH were good in evaluating patients with upper limb disorders.