Measurement properties of the Personal Care Participation Assessment and Resource Tool: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: To systematically review research investigating measurement properties of the Personal Care Participation Assessment and Resource Tool (PC-PART), formerly the Handicap Assessment and Resource Tool (HART). Data sources: Seven databases were searched using (i) HART or PC-PART terms and (ii) known authors. Reference list searches, citation searches and author contact were secondary search methods. Study selection: Searches retrieved 492 articles. Those investigating at least one HART or PC-PART measurement property were selected. Three articles met review criteria. Secondary searching produced four additional studies. Data extraction: Two reviewers independently critiqued each article, using published quality criteria for (i) study methods and (ii) each measurement property. Results: There was positive evidence supporting content validity of the PC-PART in adult in-patient and community based, sub/acute health settings. Clinical utility was largely supported. There was inconclusive evidence for inter-rater reliability, construct validity and responsiveness. Conclusions: The PC-PART shows promise as a clinically relevant and useful assessment to aid decision making about admission or discharge from health care settings. Further research is needed to establish the PC-PART’s place in clinical practice across a range of patient groups and settings using sound methods to investigate structural validity, reliability, criterion validity, construct validity, clinical utility and responsiveness.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The PC-PART was designed to assess patients’ participation restrictions in necessary Personal and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (PADL and IADL) for community living.

• The assessment may aid rehabilitation team decision making about priorities for intervention and readiness for discharge.

• Although there is strong evidence to support content validity, further testing of the PC-PART’s measurement properties is warranted to strengthen evidence to support its use.

Keywords::

• Activities of Daily Living
• discharge planning
• ICF
• Personal Care Participation Assessment and Resource Tool

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the valuable assistance of (i) Professor Peteris Darzins, (Eastern Health, Melbourne) for providing data and written details of the methods of the unpublished studies used in this review, and (ii) Colin Steel (Melbourne Health) and Robyn Smith (Northern Health, Melbourne) for providing information about the methods of the studies they authored.

Declaration of Interest: The work contained in this manuscript was completed as part of Susan Darzins’ doctoral studies, supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship. Susan Darzins is a Director of Darzins Consulting Pty Ltd., which operates using the business name “The PART Group”. The PART Group distributes PC-PART products. The author of the PC-PART is married to Susan Darzins. Each author reports no other declarations of interest.

Appendix

Appendix I.  Individual item content of the PC-PART.