Reliability and validity of a physical capacity evaluation used to assess individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illness

Physical capacity evaluations (PCEs) are important and frequently offered services in work practice. This study to investigate the reliability and validity of the National Taiwan University Hospital Physical Capacity Evaluation (NTUH PCE) on a sample of 149 participants consisted of three groups: 45 intellectual disability (ID), 56 mental illness (MI), and 48 no disability (ND). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Cronbach α, and one-way ANOVA were calculated where appropriate. Results indicated that most subtests of the NTUH PCE had good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC, 0.75-0.95), with the exception of subtests of the position tolerance section for ID and MI groups and the hand coordination section for the ND group. Good internal consistency was shown on strength, mobility, and hand coordination sections (α, 0.96, 0.90, and 0.95, respectively), with the exception of the position tolerance section (α=0.37). The known group validity of the NTUH PCE in people with disabilities was satisfactory. In conclusion, although some improvements are needed in some subtests, the NTUH PCE is suitable for measuring physical work-related abilities of people with disabilities. ? 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.