Utility of the Functional Assessment Inventory in a Post-Stroke Sample

• Published in: Rehabilitation counseling bulletin Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 165 - 177
• Main Authors: Heinemann, Allen W., Crown, Deborah, McMahon, Rita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01-04-2000; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Behavior Disorders; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Counselors; Employment Potential; Evaluation Methods; Factor Analysis; Functional Assessment Inventory; Functional Behavioral Assessment; Predictive Validity; Psychometrics; Qualifications; Rating Scales; Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation Counseling; Test Validity; Validity; Vocational Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 0034-3552; 1538-4853
• DOI: 10.1177/003435520004300307

The objectives of this study were to describe the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment Inventory in a sample of vocational service clients who had sustained strokes. Using rating scale analysis, we found that a 4-point rating scale was not useful in distinguishing performance on four items; rescoring these items enhanced the reliability of the measure. Four strata of clients could be distinguished: high, above average, below average, and low. The Inventory shows evidence of concurrent validity because it distinguishes stroke subtypes. It also has predictive validity—it distinguishes clients with different vocational outcomes. With only minor modifications, the instrument is useful in describing the vocational potential of clients following stroke.