Validação e adaptação transcultural do instrumento de Edmonton Functional Asssessment Tool para a língua portuguesa (Portugal)

Abstract

Background: The Edmonton Functional Assessment Tool (EFAT) is an assessment instrument based on the functional performance and comprises two distinct parts. While the first part includes 10 items describing functions and symptoms, the second one contains a single item, the functional status, which summarizes the evaluation of the previous 10 specific items. More research is needed to support the effectiveness of rehabilitation in palliative patients and the lack of functional assessment tools, properly validated for Portugal. Based on this, the aim of the present study is to adapt and validate the EFAT for the Portuguese population, assessing to its degree of reproducibility and determining its psychometric characteristics in a specific population, as well as characterize the sample of palliative cancer patients for age, sex, primary tumor location and functionality. Methods: Considering the type of data analysis, this is a methodological and quantitative study. The EFAT was translated and the procedures to validate this instrument were performed in a sample of 12 patients (167 observations) admitted in a palliative care unit. In addition to EFAT-Pt, three other instruments (Karnofsky Index, Palliative Performance Status and Eastern Cooperative Oncologic Group Performance Status) were also applied. Results: The interrater reability of EFAT-Pt was evaluated by the correlation coefficient (weighted kappa), yielding values between 0.629 and 1.00, p< 0.001 and, was also expressed as an intraclass correlation (ICC), establishing values between r = 0.896 and r = 1.000. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.854 was determined. Concurrent validity of the EFAT was demonstrated by correlating the total EFAT score with the KPS (r = -0.570, p = 0.000), the PPS (r = -0.755, p = 0.000) and the EGOG (r = 0.663, p = 0.000). Conclusion: The findings described in the present study provide evidence that EFAT-Pt can be validated for Portugal. However further studies with a larger sample should be performed, since the data are based on a substantial number of observations but not of patients.

Date of Award	3 Mar 2016
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Manuel Luís Capelas (Supervisor) & Maria dos Anjos Coelho Rodrigues Dixe (Co-Supervisor)