A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Minimal important change for the visual analogue scale foot and ankle (VAS-FA)
Authors: Saarinen Antti J., Uimonen Mikko M., Sandelin Henrik, Toom Alar, Richter Martinus, Repo Jussi P.
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Publication year: 2021
Journal: Foot and Ankle Surgery
Journal name in source: Foot and Ankle Surgery
Volume: 27
Issue: 2
First page : 196
Last page: 200
eISSN: 1460-9584
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2020.04.005
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/10138/329406/1/1_s2.0_S1268773120300709_main.pdf
Background
Visual analogue scale foot and ankle (VAS-FA) is a patient-reported outcome measure for foot and ankle disorders. The VAS-FA is validated into several languages and well adopted into use. Nonetheless, minimal important change (MIC) for the VAS-FA has not been estimated thus far.
Methods
The VAS-FA score was obtained from 106 patients undergoing surgery for various foot and ankle complaints. MIC was estimated using an anchor-based predictive method.
Results
The adjusted MIC was 6.8 for total VAS-FA score, and 9.3 for the Pain, 5.8 for the Function, and 5.7 for the Other complaints subscales. The VAS-FA score was found to separate improvement and deterioration in patients’ foot and ankle condition.
Conclusions
MIC was successfully defined for the VAS-FA in the current study. The VAS-FA can be used to evaluate foot and ankle patients’ clinical foot and ankle status and its change. Further research on estimating disease-specific MICs is recommended.
