Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire has been used to assess a variety of hand and upper extremity injuries and conditions for nearly 15 years. It has been included in several overviews of upper extremity outcomes measures, but it has not been systematically examined regarding its clinometric properties during field trials. METHODS: The authors conducted a review of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire in the English language literature from 1998 through March of 2012. Data from clinical studies were abstracted and compiled. RESULTS: The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire has been used in 58 clinical studies, and its clinometric properties have been analyzed in an additional 18 publications. The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire compares favorably with other hand outcomes instruments in the areas of test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness. High internal consistency may indicate redundancy within the items in the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. The strength of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire is its multidimensional construct in measuring patient-rated outcomes in symptom, function, aesthetics, and satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire has been applied across a variety of conditions affecting the hand and upper limb. Its psychometric properties have been tested through field trials in various clinical settings around the world.