VALIDATION OF THE OSWESTRY HIP SCORE: A PATIENT COMPLETED TOOL FOR EVALUATION OF HIP FUNCTION

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate Oswestry hip score. This is a new score which was developed as a patient completed self-assessment to provide both Harris and Merle d’Aubigne hip score with added content to estimate hip range of motion.

Methods: 61 patients completed the Oswestry hip score, the WOMAC and the SF-36. Validity was tested by comparing the domains and items of the Oswestry hip score to WOMAC and SF-36. The new movement scale of Oswestry hip score was specifically validated against Merle d’ Aubinge, mobility scoring system. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Mean age was 56 years (range 18–83).Content validity of the Oswestry hip score was demonstrated by two main indicators for hip surgery, pain and function. Analysis of frequency of response distribution showed no floor or ceiling effect for any of the domains of the Oswestry hip score. Construct validity of the Oswestry hip score domains of pain and function showed good correlation with the correspondent domains of WOMAC and SF-36 (p< 0.001). Moderate correlation was found among clinical assessment of hip movement, Merle d’ Aubinge mobility score and movement domains of Oswestry hip score (Pearson’s r=0.55; p0.001). Correlation between Harris and Oswestry hip score was 0.63 to 0.91. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.7, showing good internal consistency.

Conclusion: A positive construct validity and high correlation with WOMAC and SF-36 shows that the Oswestry hip score is can give an adequate measure of hip joint function. The new questionnaire is brief and can be completed by patients themselves. It is therefore ideal for long-term and large-scale collection of data. Oswestry hip score does not intend to replace the clinical examination at the critical phases following hip surgery but can be a useful adjunct. We report the validity and reliability of this new tool.