Validity and reliability of the Duruöz Hand Index in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Objective The Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) is a valuable scale developed for evaluating hand functions of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and subsequently proven to be valid and reliable in various diseases. This study aims to investigate the validity and reliability of the DHI in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods Patients diagnosed with PsA according to CASPAR criteria were enrolled. The demographic, clinical, and functional characteristics of patients were evaluated. Functional assessment was performed with DHI, Hand Functional Index, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and VAS-disability scale. C-reactive protein level, patients’ and physicians’ global VAS, swelling and tenderness of the hand joints, gross grip strength and thumb strength, and disease activity assessments were recorded as non-functional parameters related to active disease status. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency (with Cronbach’s-a) and test–retest intraclass correlation coefficient. Face, content, convergent, and divergent validities were applied. Results One hundred and forty-four patients (74.3% female) were included in this study. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.963, and for the test–retest reliability of the DHI, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.904 ( p