Khon Kaen University researchers developed a 27-item physical-activity questionnaire in 94 patients within three months of cardiac surgery. Internal consistency was high, and scores correlated moderately to strongly with the six-minute walk test, DASI and the SF-36 physical-function domain.
Key findings
- Mean IOC was 0.91 and Cronbach's alpha 0.88. Correlations were rs=0.58 with 6MWD, rs=0.69 with DASI and rs=0.40 with SF-36 physical functioning.
Why this matters globally
A postoperative-specific questionnaire could support screening and rehabilitation planning where repeated performance testing is impractical.
Thai researcher contribution
The Faculty of Medicine and Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast at Khon Kaen University developed and validated the tool in Thai patients.
Limitations to consider
The modest single-context sample lacks external validation, test-retest reliability, responsiveness and clinical cutoffs. Correlation with existing measures does not establish outcome prediction.