SE services can be considered as a viable option for return to work in resource-constrained environments. Providers of SE services will need to modify approaches in order to meet contextual realities.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The Smith hand function test is a performance-based hand function assessment with limited evidence on its psychometric properties. This study was conducted to investigate the inter-rater reliability of the Smith hand function test and for consideration in a developing country context. Methods: Twenty-two participants living in Cape Town, South Africa were selected by convenience sampling. The sample performed test-retest of the Smith hand function test items four times by four different raters. The interrater reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients, with 95% confidence interval, testing absolute agreement and consistency. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients were above 0.75 for all subtests apart from the button board test item. This item had intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.579 (agreement) and 0.577 (consistency) with a standard deviation of 3.64 s and a 0.39 s standard error of measurement. Conclusions: The inter-rater reliability of the Smith hand function test following a test-retest design by multiple raters was good. This suggests that further psychometric studies on the Smith hand function test could be valuable for clinical hand practice.