A comparison of the Screening Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) scale to objective hand function assessments.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate construct validity of the Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) scale by comparing the measurement outcomes to objective hand function assessments. The SALSA questionnaire was developed to measure self-reported activity limitation in persons affected by peripheral neuropathy.

METHOD: In 25 persons affected by leprosy impairment scores were determined via sensory and manual motor testing of the hands. The SALSA was administered as well as the Functional Dexterity Test (FDT), the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) and daily living tasks from the Smith Hand Function Evaluation (SHFE).

RESULTS: The SALSA score varied from 16 to 64 (mean 29.16, SD 12.43). Twelve persons had no activity limitation while the others had increasing levels of activity limitation. Performance on the hand function tests was slower than established norms for these tests. The SALSA score correlated significantly with the NHPT (r = 0.77), the SHFE (r = 0.66) and the fdt (r = 0.54). Impairment scores correlated with both SALSA and functional tests results.

CONCLUSION: The credibility of the SALSA scale was enhanced by this validation study and showed that the SALSA is a useful assessment tool to measure level of function and activity limitation.