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How do you calculate quick dash?

Published in Outcome Measure Calculation 3 mins read

The QuickDASH score is calculated using a specific formula that normalizes the sum of responses from completed items, providing a score ranging from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).

How to Calculate the QuickDASH Score

The QuickDASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) outcome measure is a shorter version of the original DASH questionnaire, used to measure the ability of patients to perform upper extremity tasks and to monitor changes over time. Its score is derived from a standardized formula.

The QuickDASH Formula

The QuickDASH score is calculated using the following formula:

QuickDASH Score = ( [ (Sum of responses) / n ] - 1 ) * 25

Where:

  • Sum of responses: This is the total sum of the scores for all completed items on the QuickDASH questionnaire. Each item is typically scored on a 5-point scale.
  • n: This represents the number of items that the individual actually completed on the questionnaire.

Conditions for Calculation

For the QuickDASH score to be considered valid and computable:

  • It cannot be computed if more than one item is missing from the questionnaire. This means that if two or more items are left unanswered, a QuickDASH score cannot be generated. If one item is missing, the score can still be calculated using 'n' as the number of completed items.

Step-by-Step Calculation

To calculate the QuickDASH score, follow these steps:

  1. Sum the Completed Responses: Add up the scores from all the QuickDASH items that the individual has completed.
  2. Count Completed Items: Determine the exact number of items (n) that were answered.
  3. Calculate the Average Score: Divide the sum of responses by the number of completed items (n).
  4. Subtract One: Subtract 1 from the average score obtained in the previous step.
  5. Multiply by 25: Multiply the result by 25 to scale the score to a range of 0 to 100.

Example Calculation

Let's assume a QuickDASH questionnaire has 11 items, and a patient completed 10 of them (one item was left blank), with a total sum of 28 from the 10 completed items.

  • Sum of responses: 28
  • n (number of completed items): 10
  • Average score: 28 / 10 = 2.8
  • Subtract one: 2.8 - 1 = 1.8
  • Multiply by 25: 1.8 * 25 = 45

Therefore, the QuickDASH score for this patient would be 45. If two items were missing (e.g., only 9 items completed), the score would not be computable.

Interpreting the QuickDASH Score

The QuickDASH score ranges from 0 to 100. A lower score indicates less disability, while a higher score indicates greater disability in performing daily activities related to the arm, shoulder, or hand. This standardized scoring allows for objective measurement and comparison over time, helping clinicians track patient progress. For more detailed information on the QuickDASH outcome measure, you can refer to resources like Physiopedia.