DaLuz Donatelli, L, Clark, D, Costello, H, Seymour, C; University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA. bcue@email.msn.com.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the pilot study was to determine if the two-part Breast Cancer Upper Extremity Functional Assessment Tool (BCUE) is a valid and reliable test of the functional ability for women who have undergone breast cancer treatment. SUBJECTS: Seventy-five women previously treated for breast cancer were recruited from the Winchester Hospital Breast Care Center and Orthopaedics Plus, an out-patient satellite clinic of Winchester Hospital. Thirty-three women volunteered, of which twenty were able to meet with researchers and were included as subjects for the study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Women who volunteered for the study were asked to complete a Personal Profile Data Sheet and an Informed Consent form. Once these materials were returned, researchers contacted the women to schedule appointments. The twenty subjects then completed the Physical Component Scale of the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the BCUE-S. They also underwent the BCUE-O evaluation, which was administered and independently rated by two researchers. The Personal Profile Data Sheet was used to collect pertinent medical history and demographic information. Results of the SF-36, which has been demonstrated to be a valid and reliable measure of general perceived health concepts, were compared with results of the BCUE-S, which assesses perceived functional ability, and with results of the BCUE-O, which assesses upper extremity function. Results of the BCUE-S were compared with results of the BCUE-O. ANALYSES: Inter-rater correlation coefficients were calculated to determine agreement between testers. Three Spearman’s Rho were performed to determine correlation between the BCUE-S and the BCUE-O, the BCUE-S and the SF-36, and the BCUE-O and the SF-36. RESULTS: There was a moderate relationship between the results of the BCUE-S and BCUE-O. There was also a strong agreement between raters in the administration of the BCUE-O. However, a strong correlation between the BCUE and the SF-36 was not found. The majority of subjects participating were at least three years post treatment, and appeared to have few, if any, limitations in performing simulations of daily activities. The lack of conclusive results may be due to one or a combination of these factors: a relatively small sample size, the convenience sample, post-treatment time frames, and/or types of treatments received. CONCLUSIONS: The BCUE is simple to administer and offers a high degree of inter-rater agreement, while demonstrating a moderate relationship between results of the BCUE-S and BCUE-O. Thus, the BCUE shows promise as a tool that may assist physical therapists in assessing, demonstrating, and improving treatment effectiveness for women who have undergone breast cancer surgery, while decreasing treatment time and cost. FUNDING SOURCE: None.

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