Rasch analysis of the patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaire.

The data came from one hand clinic and only from 6 months after fracture, so the findings may not apply earlier in recovery, later in recovery, or in other settings. The sample was a convenience set of existing cross-sectional data, not a newly recruited study designed for this analysis. Patients were 6 months post-injury, so many may already have been recovered, which can make it harder to see problems at the severe end of the scale. Age and work status were linked in this sample, so it is unclear which factor explained some item differences. The changes needed to make the questionnaire fit the model, such as deleting, rescoring, splitting, and bundling items, are not operational for ordinary clinical use.

Do not conclude that the unmodified PRWE total score is a single precise measure ready for routine clinical use. The questionnaire fit the model only after items were deleted, rescored, split by age or work status, or bundled, and the authors state these changes are not practical for general clinical practice.