Manual Overview
For those who are most interested in how to use the DASH, Chapters 1 and 2 are the most relevant. Chapter 1 provides the information needed to start using the DASH immediately. Chapter 2 describes important details about administering the DASH and includes answers to frequently asked questions. Those who are interested in the rationale behind developing the DASH and/or are searching for reliability, validity and responsiveness statistics will find Chapters 3 to 8 to be must reads.
A brief overview of the manual is presented to help you quickly access the information you need.
Chapter 1
Introduction to the DASH Outcome Measure
This chapter offers a brief overview on the ”who, how and why” of the development of the DASH. It provides essential information to start using the DASH immediately, such as how to score the DASH. It also includes a brief summary on the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the DASH.
Chapter 2
Administering the DASH
This chapter provides practical information on how to administer the DASH. It includes more detailed scoring guidelines for the DASH, such as what to do if more than one response is circled. It also provides information on how to introduce the DASH to your patient/client/subject and provides answers to frequently asked questions.
Chapter 3
History and Background of the DASH Outcome Measure
This chapter provides detailed information on the development of the DASH. It also answers questions related to the ”when, where, how and why“ to administer the DASH.
Chapter 4
Deciding on the Content and Format of the Measure
This chapter presents the rationale underlying major decisions regarding the content and format of the DASH. It answers questions about why some of the DASH questions are unattributed, why capacity wording was used, how the time frame of the questions was selected, and how the scaling of the response options was chosen.
Chapter 5
Development of the DASH
The methodology used to develop the DASH is outlined in this chapter. Much of the material presented describes clinimetric and psychometric item-reduction techniques.
Chapter 6
Reliability and Validity Testing
This chapter presents results of the validity and reliability testing completed on the DASH.
Chapter 7
Responsiveness Testing
This chapter summarizes the results of responsiveness testing of the DASH.
Chapter 8
Interpreting DASH Scores for an Individual Patient — What Does The Score Mean?
This chapter addresses the difference between individual and group-level analysis, and provides information to assist DASH users in interpreting scores and change scores for an individual patient.
Chapter 9
Development of the QuickDASH
The methodology used to develop the QuickDASH is outlined in this chapter. It also presents the results of validity, reliability and responsiveness testing completed on the QuickDASH.
Chapter 10
DASH Optional Modules — Reliability, Validity and Responsiveness Testing
This chapter presents the data available on the Optional Modules of the DASH/QuickDASH.
Chapter 11
Cross-cultural Use of the DASH/QuickDASH
This chapter provides an overview of the cross-cultural adaptation process. This chapter also summarizes the cross-cultural adaptations completed on the DASH/QuickDASH and reviews the psychometric testing that has been done.
Chapter 12
Feedback from Users of the DASH/QuickDASH
This chapter presents a summary of a survey about who is using the DASH/QuickDASH Outcome measure, with what types of patients/clients/subjects, and for which regions of the upper limb. It also includes feedback from DASH/QuickDASH users about how they are interpreting DASH scores based on their clinical experience.
Chapter 13
Summary and What’s Ahead
This chapter concludes the manual and briefly outlines work on the DASH/QuickDASH that is currently planned or in progress.