Psychometric comparisons of the Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale

This study compared the responsiveness and criterion-related validity of the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) for patients after stroke rehabilitation.

The SIS and SS-QOL, along with five criterion measures—the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, the Motor Activity Log, the Functional Independence Measure, the Frenchay Activities Index, and the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale—were administered to 74 patients with stroke before and after a 3-week intervention. Responsiveness was examined using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and standardized response mean (SRM). Criterion-related validity was investigated using the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ).

Whereas the SS-QOL subscales were nonresponsive to changes, the SIS hand function showed medium responsiveness (SRM = .52, Wilcoxon Z = 4.24, P < .05). Responsiveness of the SIS total also was significantly larger than that of the SS-QOL total (SRM difference, .36; 95% confidence interval, .02–.71). Criterion validity of the SIS hand function was good (ρ = .51–.68; P < .01), but that of the SS-QOL was only fair (ρ = .25–.31; P < .05).

Because the SIS had better overall responsiveness and the SIS hand function showed medium responsiveness and good criterion validity, the SIS appears to be more suited for assessing changes after stroke rehabilitation.