Validity and reliability of the Glittre-ADL test in adults with asthma

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Adults with asthma may have limitations in their activities of daily living (ADL) and among the most used tests to assess ADL, performance-based instruments such as the Glittre-Activities of Daily Living (Glittre-ADL) test are available. However, metric properties of this instrument have not yet been investigated in this population.

Objective

To verify the construct validity and reliability of the Glittre-ADL test in adults with asthma.

Methods

Fifty-eight adults with asthma had their ADL objectively assessed by Glittre-ADL test, which was performed twice by the same rater. Lung function (spirometry), functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test, 6MWT), and quality of life (St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ) were also assessed.

Results

Participants were 31% men; 43 ± 14 years; FEV1 74 ± 18% predicted. Performance in the Glittre-ADL test correlated with the 6MWT (r = −0.61; P < .0001) and had excellent intraclass correlation coefficient ICC_3,1 = 0.95. Standard error of measurement was 23%, and the minimal detectable change was 29 seconds. Furthermore, the learning effect was 11 seconds (5.03%).

Conclusion

The Glittre-ADL test is valid and reliable for assessing ADL in adults with asthma. However, considerable learning effect was observed and therefore the best of two measures can avoid underestimation.

KEYWORDS:

• Validity and reliability
• asthma
• activities of daily living

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the following institutions for personal grants: VP and TA are supported by a MSc grant from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior e Programa de Suporte à Pós-Graduação de Instituições de Ensino Particulares CAPES/PROSUP, Brazil. JO is supported by a PhD grant from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior e Programa de Suporte à Pós-Graduação de Instituições de Ensino Particulares CAPES/PROSUP, Brazil. FP is supported by a personal grant from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), grant number 303131/2017-9. KF is supported by a personal grant from Fundação Nacional do Desenvolvimento do Ensino Superior Particular (FUNADESP), grant number 5301164. In addition, we are grateful to colleagues at the Laboratory of Research in Respiratory Physiotherapy and Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences for contributions to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.