To validate a short-form Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 (AIMS2-SF) among 147 patients with osteoarthritis (OA).
We used factor analysis to identify domains of functional health associated with OA. Multitrait scaling analysis was used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the AIMS2-SF.
The results suggested that upper body limitations should be distinguished from lower body limitations in the physical function scale. The AIMS2-SF was psychometrically sound, with all 5 scales having high item-discriminant validity and Cronbach's alpha reliability above the 0.70 criterion (except 0.67 for the social function scale).
The AIMS2-SF is a reliable and valid instrument among patients with OA. Because of its simplicity and ease of application, it may be useful in routine evaluation of health status, in clinical research, and in predicting use of medical services among OA patients.