Chiu Yi-Po, Fritz Stacy L, Light Kathye E, Velozo Craig A
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Box 100154, UFHSC, Gainesville, FL 32611-0154, USA.
Phys Ther. 2006 Jun;86(6):778-87.
The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) is a standardized clinical assessment that aids in evaluating a subject's ability to modify gait in response to changing demands. The purpose of this study was to use Rasch measurement theory to examine whether the DGI rating scale meets suggested psychometric guidelines, whether the hierarchical order of DGI tasks is consistent with a clinically logical testing procedure, and whether the DGI represents a unidimensional construct.
Subjects were 84 community-dwelling male veterans (age range=64-88 years; mean+/-SD=75+/-6.47 years).
Data were retrieved retrospectively from the participants' clinical records. The Rasch measurement model with the WINSTEPS program was used in this study because it offers distinct advantages over traditional psychometric approaches.
Overall, the DGI showed sound item psychometric properties. Each of the original 4 rating scale categories appeared to distinctly identify subjects at different ability levels. The analysis revealed a clear item difficulty hierarchical order that is generally consistent with clinical expectations. In addition, fit statistics and principal components analysis indicated that the 8 items of the DGI appear to represent a single construct.
The results suggest that the rating scale of the DGI is used appropriately for community-dwelling older subjects with balance problems. The findings support the continued use of this well-constructed scale for clinical and research assessment in a community-dwelling population of older subjects.
动态步态指数（DGI）是一种标准化的临床评估方法，有助于评估受试者根据不断变化的需求调整步态的能力。本研究的目的是运用拉施测量理论，检验DGI评分量表是否符合建议的心理测量学准则，DGI任务的层次顺序是否与临床逻辑测试程序一致，以及DGI是否代表一个单维结构。
受试者为84名居住在社区的男性退伍军人（年龄范围=64 - 88岁；平均±标准差=75±6.47岁）。
数据从参与者的临床记录中回顾性获取。本研究使用带有WINSTEPS程序的拉施测量模型，因为它比传统心理测量方法具有明显优势。
总体而言，DGI显示出良好的项目心理测量特性。最初的4个评分量表类别中的每一个似乎都能清晰地识别不同能力水平的受试者。分析揭示了一个明确的项目难度层次顺序，这与临床预期总体一致。此外，拟合统计和主成分分析表明，DGI的8个项目似乎代表一个单一结构。
结果表明，DGI评分量表适用于有平衡问题的社区居住老年受试者。这些发现支持在社区居住老年人群体的临床和研究评估中继续使用这个构建良好的量表。
