Psychometric properties testing of a Cantonese version of the Life-Space Assessment in people with stroke

Abstract

The Life-Space Assessment (LSA) advances measurements of mobility by determining the extent of the spatial area in which a person moves in real life. Yet there is no Cantonese version of the LSA. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the LSA into Cantonese (C-LSA) and examine its psychometric properties in people with stroke. Psychometric properties were examined in 112 people with stroke. The life-space of stroke survivors was compared with that of healthy older people with and without depressive symptoms. The content validity of the C-LSA was good. The Cronbach’s α was 0.73. The test–retest reliability was 0.95. The standard error of measurement was 4.21 and the minimal detectable change was 11.66, without any ceiling or floor effects in the C-LSA composite score. The composite score correlated significantly with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of lower extremities score (rs = 0.31), the Five Times Sit-To-Stand time (rs = − 0.43), and the Frenchay Activities Index score (rs = 0.48). People with stroke had significantly lower C-LSA composite scores than healthy older people. Depressive symptoms worsened the composite and assisted life-space scores only of people with stroke. The C-LSA is a reliable and valid tool for measuring life-space in stroke populations.

Timed up-and-go performance is associated with objectively measured life space in patients 3 months after ischemic stroke: a cross-sectional observational study

“…The observed higher values in life space (i.e., objectively measured maximal distance from home and area-based measures) in participants with a better physical function (i.e., better TUG performance) appear to be reasonable based on findings reported for questionnaire-based life-space assessments in previous studies in patients with stroke [ 20 , 22 , 42 , 47 ]. The ability to get up from a chair and walk is an essential component of being able to move within the life space.…”

“…Ho et al (2021) compared 66 people with stroke (mean age 64.9 ± 6.6 years) with 65 healthy older people (mean age 67.0 ± 7.0 years) [ 20 ]. They assessed life space using LSA and compared the values with that of healthy older people with and without depressive symptoms.…”

“…They assessed life space using LSA and compared the values with that of healthy older people with and without depressive symptoms. They reported a significant correlation of the LSA composite score with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of lower extremities score ( r s = 0.31), the Five Times Sit-To-Stand time ( r s = − 0.43), and the Frenchay Activities Index score ( r s = 0.48) and concluded that patients with stroke had significantly lower LSA composite scores than healthy older people [ 20 ]. We found a borderline significant association between the LSA score and the TUG performance in our study and the GNSS-based life space showed a positive association with the TUG performance.…”

“…The University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging Life-Space Assessment (LSA) is a widely used approach to evaluate older adults' life space due to its ease of use and high test-retest-reliability [2,30]. Recently, it has been used in studies on patients with stroke [20,23,42,47].…”

“…Despite the relevance for personal health and social interaction and the availability of methods and technology, it is only since very recently that researchers started to investigate life space after stroke. The existing literature describes positive associations of subjectively measured life space (i.e., questionnaire assessment) with physical function [20,42,47] and physical activity (i.e. step count) [23] in patients with stroke.…”