There is a need for valid measures to monitor changes in the functional mobility of inpatients of orthopaedic rehabilitation wards. The timed up and go (TUG) test is often used to measure functional mobility 13,24 but it has not been specifically validated for use with the type of complex musculoskeletal conditions seen on an inpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation service.tation because it is simple and easy to administer in a clinical setting. The test consists of measuring the time it takes for an individual to get up from a chair, walk to a 3-m mark, turn around, come back, and sit down.Previous studies have demonstrated that the TUG test is reliable for community-dwelling individuals. 19,21,22,25,30,31,34 The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) have ranged from 0.75 in individuals with osteoarthritis awaiting knee/ hip arthroplasty 19 to 0.95 22 and 0.97 34 in community-dwelling older adults.However, persons living in the community may be quite different from hospitalized patients who are frequently dependent in activities of daily living (ADL) and restricted in weight-bearing activities. Although Nordin et al 26 have sampled subjects residing in supportedliving facilities and dependent in ADL; their subjects were different from inpatients of orthopaedic rehabilitation wards in that they had cognitive impairments and only 18% of them had orthopaedicrelated diagnoses. Furthermore, previous reliability studies did not specifically include subjects with restricted weightbearing status. 19,21,22,25,30,31,34 The TUG test has been validated for use with orthopaedic conditions and in Single-group repeatedmeasures study.To examine the test-retest reliability of the timed up and go (TUG) test and its validity for measuring change and predicting length of stay (LOS) on an inpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation ward.The TUG test is used to measure functional mobility of persons with musculoskeletal conditions but has not been thoroughly tested for use in an inpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation ward.The TUG test was administered to 142 patients on admission to an orthopaedic rehabilitation ward 7 to 10 days after admission and on discharge. To test reliability, 24 subjects had these tests repeated 1 day after admission, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated. Change scores of the TUG test were evaluated against change scores in pain and function, and the rating of improvement of the patient and therapist. The standardized response mean (SRM) was also calculated. A regression analysis was performed to determine whether the admission TUG test score could predict LOS.The ICC of the TUG test was 0.80, and the SEM was 10.2 seconds. The change in TUG test scores correlated with the changes in pain (r = 0.21, P .01) and function (r = -0.23, P .01), and resulted in an SRM of 0.89 for subjects rated as improved. The admission TUG test scores accounted for only 3.4% of the variance in inpatient LOS.The TUG test is reliable and valid to assess group change of inp...

The ICC of the LEFS was 0.88, and the SEM was 4 LEFS points (LEFS score range, 0-80). The change in LEFS correlated with changes of comparison measures in the same direction of improvement. Patients rated as improved by both themselves and their therapists had significantly larger change in LEFS scores than subjects rated as no change. The SRM of the LEFS from admission to discharge was 1.76 on patients rated as improved.The LEFS is reliable and valid to assess group and individual change, and has large responsiveness. The LEFS and the comparison measures likely assess different constructs.

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of mental illness (MI) and rehabilitation services among Chinese and Vietnamese Americans. A qualitative study design (face-to-face interview) was used and 40 Chinese and Vietnamese Americans/immigrants participated in the study. Results indicated that the participants' views of MI were multifaceted. The major themes included: (a) MI was a treatable disease that consisted of different types and varied from mild to severe; (b) the major cause of MI was stressful circumstances such as the Vietnam War and immigration; (c) MI was not positively perceived in the participants' communities; and (d) rehabilitation counseling services were almost unknown to the participants although some of them were aware of mental health services. Implications of the results for rehabilitation counselors and researchers are discussed in light of the impact of Chinese and Vietnamese cultures on the perceptions of various aspects or MI.