Assessment-Description

The FAI was developed to assess an individual’s functional ability in daily activities and social functions. It includes questions that examine aspects such as mobility, self-care, daily activities, as well as participation in social life and work. The FAI is ideal for evaluating the quality of life and independence of individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
It is often used for:
Assessing self-care capabilities.
Identifying areas where the individual needs assistance or interventions.
Monitoring progress during a rehabilitation program or therapy.

Data Analysis and Usage

FAI data are typically collected through questionnaires completed by participants or through interviews. The questions are often answered using Likert scales, allowing for statistical analysis of the data. Common methods of analysis include:
Reliability analysis to ensure that the questions provide reliable and consistent results.
Factor analysis, which helps categorize the questions into subscales such as physical function, social participation, and cognitive ability.
Comparative analysis to track improvement in the individual at various time points during rehabilitation or therapy.

Purpose

The main goal of the FAI is to assess the functionality and ability of an individual to perform basic daily activities, both at home and in social life. Another goal is to provide useful information on areas where interventions or improvements are needed, as well as to evaluate progress after therapeutic interventions.

Calibration

The calibration of the FAI typically involves the following psychometric methods:
Content validity: Ensures that the questions cover all key areas of functionality.
Reliability analysis: Typically, Cronbach’s alpha is calculated to assess the internal consistency of the scale.
Comparative validation: Conducted across various populations to confirm that the scale is suitable for different groups (e.g., people with disabilities, the elderly).

Bibliography

Keith, R. A., Granger, C. V., Hamilton, B. B., & Sherwin, F. S. (1987). The functional independence measure: A new tool for rehabilitation. Advances in Clinical Rehabilitation, 1, 6-18.
Granger, C. V., & Hamilton, B. B. (1992). Measurement of the “physical state” of patients with stroke: A prospective study. Stroke, 23(7), 1035-1041.
Lollar, D. J., & Simeonsson, R. J. (2005). Diagnosis to function: Classification for children and youths. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 47(11), 759-761.