FAST and PSFS: Assessment and Validation of Two Functional Scales in Patients With Knee OA in Singapore

NCT05590663 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 202206-00049
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The new National One-Rehab framework mandates the use of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) as an outcome measure to track patients' rehabilitation progress. Anecdotally, we have encountered patients (especially elderly ≥ 65 years old) with difficulty understanding and completing such questionnaire accurately. We developed a pictorial functional scale (Functional Activity Scoring Tool, FAST) with reference to the successful application of the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale. Concurrently, we hope to validate PSFS and FAST against Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) which is validated in Singapore population. This study aims to investigate the reliability and validity of the PSFS and FAST in patients with knee osteoarthritis. We hypothesize that both the PSFS and FAST can be used to measure difficulty in performing activities of daily living in patients with knee osteoarthritis in a reliable and valid manner. The FAST and PSFS questionnaires will be administered to patients in SingHealth Polyclinics with knee osteoarthritis to explore the psychometric and clinimetric properties. Eligibility criteria were: age 45 and above, proficient in English, diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Patients were excluded if they have underlying medical or trauma conditions (i.e., trauma, fracture, infection, inflammatory disease, tumor), history of knee surgery within the last 3 months, or clinically recognizable cognitive impairment. Eligible patients will be informed about the purpose of the study and the confidentiality and anonymity of the process. After giving written consent they will complete a questionnaire on demographic and clinical characteristics and the sets of outcome measures (FAST, KOOS, PSFS). Participants will then return at two-to-three weeks later to complete the sets of outcome measures again and GROC, and to state their preferred outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of PSFS and FAST against KOOS.

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis

Keywords

Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; Patient-Specific Functional Scale; Functional Activity Scoring Tool; Functional assessment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Change in functional status as assessed by Functional Activity Scoring Tool (FAST)

  Change in functional status as assessed by FAST using a points system

  3 weeks from baseline examination

• Change in functional status as assessed by Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)

  Change in functional status as assessed by PSFS using a points system

  3 weeks from baseline examination

• Change in functional status as assessed by Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)

  Change in functional status as assessed by KOOS using a points system

  3 weeks from baseline examination

• Patients' self-perception of change in their knee condition as assessed by Global Rating of Change Score (GROC)

  Patients' self-perception of change in their knee condition as assessed by GROC using a points system

  3 weeks from baseline examination

Study Arms (1)

Patients with knee osteoarthritis

Individuals who are medically diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and eligible for physiotherapy care in SingHealth Polyclinics will be recruited. Inclusion criteria include: individuals above the age of 45, proficient in colloquial/conversational English, and diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Exclusion criteria include additional underlying medical or trauma conditions of the knees (e.g., trauma, fracture, infection, inflammatory disease, tumour), history of knee surgery within the last three months, or clinically recognizable cognitive impairment that inhibits the completion of the questionnaires.

Other: Physiotherapy

Interventions

Physiotherapy OTHER

routine referral-based physiotherapy treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis

Patients with knee osteoarthritis

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years - 100 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with knee osteoarthritis

You may qualify if:

• individuals above the age of 45
• proficient in colloquial/conversational English
• diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.

You may not qualify if:

• additional underlying medical or trauma conditions of the knees (e.g., trauma, fracture, infection, inflammatory disease, tumour)
• history of knee surgery within the last three months
• clinically recognizable cognitive impairment that inhibits the completion of the questionnaires.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• SingHealth Polyclinics: lead
• Singapore Institute of Technology: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

SingHealth Polyclinics

Singapore, Singapore

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Stratford P, Gill C, Westaway M, Binkley J. Assessing disability and change on individual patients: a report of a patient specific measure. Physiotherapy Canada. 1995;47(4):258-63.

  BACKGROUND

• Chatman AB, Hyams SP, Neel JM, Binkley JM, Stratford PW, Schomberg A, Stabler M. The Patient-Specific Functional Scale: measurement properties in patients with knee dysfunction. Phys Ther. 1997 Aug;77(8):820-9. doi: 10.1093/ptj/77.8.820.

  PMID: 9256870 BACKGROUND

• Xie F, Li SC, Roos EM, Fong KY, Lo NN, Yeo SJ, Yang KY, Yeo W, Chong HC, Thumboo J. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of Singapore English and Chinese versions of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in Asians with knee osteoarthritis in Singapore. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2006 Nov;14(11):1098-103. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2006.05.005. Epub 2006 Jun 30.

  PMID: 16814575 BACKGROUND

• Tang ZY, Ng KS, Tee JX, Lee EZE, Bistamam MHB, Wong JS, Koh YLE, Yeung M. Validation of the Functional Activity Scoring Tool (FAST): a novel pictorial scale for assessing function in patients with knee osteoarthritis in primary care. BMJ Open. 2025 Aug 31;15(8):e100732. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-100732.

  PMID: 40887119 DERIVED

• Tang ZY, Ng KS, Koh YLE, Yeung MT. Study protocol for the validation of a new pictorial functional scale in patients with knee osteoarthritis: the functional activity scoring tool (FAST). BMJ Open. 2024 Jan 8;14(1):e076947. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076947.

  PMID: 38191249 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee; Knee Injuries

Interventions

Physical Therapy Modalities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Osteoarthritis; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapeutics; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Zhi Yin Tang

  SingHealth Polyclinics

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 3 Weeks
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 18, 2022
• First Posted: October 21, 2022
• Study Start: February 13, 2023
• Primary Completion: September 15, 2023
• Study Completion: September 15, 2023
• Last Updated: June 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: IPD will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the primary results and will remain available for 5 years thereafter.
• Access Criteria: Data will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request, subject to approval by the sponsor and completion of a data use agreement.

Locations

SG (1)