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The Walking Speed Questionnaire: Assessing Walking Speed in a Self-reported Format.

Journal of orthopaedic trauma
April 1, 2016
Guang-Ting Cong et al. (11 authors)
Comparative StudyJournal ArticleMulticenter StudyResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tValidation StudyHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to validate a self-reported Walking Speed Questionnaire (WSQ) as an effective tool for assessing baseline gait speed in older adults when conventional measurement is contraindicated.

Results Summary

The WSQ significantly predicted true gait speed (r = 0.696, ρ = 0.717) and all four questions independently correlated with measured gait speed (P < 0.001). The tool enables gait screening in settings where direct testing is impractical, such as trauma cases.

Population

Ambulating individuals aged 60-95 (mean age 73.2 ± 8.1 years, 86.1% female, n = 101).

Effective Dosage

Not applicable

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Walking Speed Questionnaire (WSQ)
increase
true gait speed
Ambulating individuals aged 60-95
P < 0.001
independently predicted
#1
Walking Speed Questionnaire (WSQ)
increase
true gait speed
Ambulating individuals aged 60-95
r = 0.696 and ρ = 0.717
sufficiently predicted
#2
Walking Speed Questionnaire (WSQ)
increase
baseline walking speed
patients aged 60 years and older
-
is an effective tool for assessing
#3
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The literature increasingly demonstrates the importance of gait speed (GS) in the frailty assessment of patients aged 60 years and older. Conventional GS measurement, however, maybe contraindicated in settings such as trauma where the patient is temporarily immobilized. We devised a Walking Speed Questionnaire (WSQ) to allow assessment of preinjury baseline GS, in meters per second, in a self-reported manner, to overcome the inability to directly test the patients' walking speed. DESIGN: Four questions comprise the WSQ, and were derived using previously published questionnaires and expert opinion of 6 physician-researchers. SETTING: Four ambulatory clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Ambulating individuals aged 60-95 (mean age, 73.2 ± 8.1 years, 86.1% female, n = 101). INTERVENTION: Participants completed the WSQ and underwent GS measurement for comparison. ANALYSIS: WSQ score correlation to true GS, receiver operating characteristics, and validation statistics were performed. RESULTS: All 4 questions of the WSQ independently predicted true GS significantly (P < 0.001). The WSQ sufficiently predicted true GS with r = 0.696 and ρ = 0.717. CONCLUSIONS: The WSQ is an effective tool for assessing baseline walking speed in patients aged 60 years and older in a self-reported manner. It permits gait screening in health care environments where conventional GS testing is contraindicated due to temporary immobilization and maybe used to provide baseline targets for goal-oriented post-trauma care. Given its ability to capture GS in patients who are unable to ambulate, it may open doors for frailty research in previously unattainable populations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedAged, 80 and overFrail ElderlyGaitGeriatric AssessmentHealth Status IndicatorsHumansMaleMiddle AgedNew YorkPhysical ExaminationReproducibility of ResultsSelf ReportSensitivity and SpecificitySurveys and QuestionnairesWalking
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations7
Citations/Year0.8
Relative Citation Ratio0.44
NIH Percentile24%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.72
Normalized Score0.70
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