Construct validation of occupational therapy measures used in CVA evaluation: a beginning.

A factor analysis was conducted that involved 33 variables from data on 100 acute cerebral vascular accident patients evaluated by occupational therapists at the St. Marys Hospital Medical Center, Madison, Wisconsin. Variables included the Brunnstrom arm and hand recovery stages, bilateral grasp and pinch measures, bilateral tests of coordination, a number of perceptual tests, and five measures of self-care. From interpretation of the rotated factor patterns, five factors were defined: self-care, left function, recovery stage, perception, and strength. The results provide evidence for the construct validity of the St. Marys CVA battery, although corroborative studies are needed.