MEASURING ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING AMONG HEMOPHILIACS

To explore the activities of daily living (ADL) status and/or changes in functional limitations among haemophiliacs, 97 patients were studie d longitudinally using a 41-item checklist. The total number of data i tems was 239 with repeated inquiries. Hierarchical factor analyses yie lded a clear separation of items into five factors by the analogous tr unk and limb motion, and the existence of one higher-order factor whic h indicated that the items measured the same underlying concept. Analy ses of ratings showed that in haemophiliacs full flexion of the lower limbs was easily limited, and this deterioration was difficult to prev ent. The functional limitation level differed significantly by age gro up, but some patients showed a slight improvement in a follow-up obser vation. The ADL of haemophiliacs should be explored separately for tru nk and limb motion, not for the traditional categories.